
Pass LQ Bl)S7 

Book, W7 

Copyrigliti!>l ._ 



COEHRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN'S 
DEVELOPMENT 




SINGLE LINE BLOCK BUILDING 



Page 158 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN'S 
DEVELOPMENT 



BY 

HILDA A. WRIGHTSON 



ILLUSTRATED BY 

E. JEROME O'CONNOR 



NEW YORK 

PROSPECT PRESS, Inc. 

1918 






Copyright, 1918, by 
PROSPECT PRESS, Inc. 

All Rights Reserved 



APR -9 1918 



Printed in U. S. A. 






V 



©GI.A492948 



PREFACE 

The training of the physical co-ordina- 
tions of children is most naturally accom- 
lished through the medium of games. 

Miss Wrightson has brought together in 
convenient form a large number of games 
especially adapted to accomplish these re- 
sults. Her long experience with normal 
and sub-normal children is a guarantee of 
their usefulness and efficacy for the purpose. 

It should be fully appreciated by teachers, 
parents and superintendents that the playing 
of these games is not "mere play," but defin- 
ite training of the best kind. In many cases 
there is little else to be done. 

The teacher should select such games as 
are most interesting to her special group and 
practice these until the children are reason- 
ably proficient in them or until they prove 
uninteresting. 

The teacher familiar only with normal 
minds will perhaps think some of the games 
here described of no value. It is always hard 



PREFACE 

for the more intelligent to understand the 
less intelligent, for normal teachers to un- 
derstand sub-normal children. It should be 
remembered that the joy of accomplishment 
is one. of the greatest joys of life for all 
grades of intelligence. It is the fact that the 
list includes games adapted to the simplest 
minds which constitutes one of its excellen- 
cies. 

It should not be forgotten that these games 
not only develop co-ordination and attention; 
manners, morals, self-control, altruism, pa- 
tience and many more desirable qualities are 
involved. What more can education do 
than develop to the limit of the individual's 
capacity these qualities which, possessed 
even in a small degree, will help to make him 
a social rather than an anti-social being! 

Inasmuch as normal children are much like 
feeble-minded children of the same mental age, 
though with more spontaneity \ it is clear that 
these games will be of equal value to young nor- 
mal children and will have great value in helping 
them to develop their latent powers and to work 
off their natural energy in profitable ways. 

Henry H. Goddard, Ph.D. 



PRACTICAL TRAINING HINTS 

THE games and exercises in this book 
were written for use among mothers 
and teachers of normal and sub-normal 
children, the object being to help develop 
muscular control and to quicken the sense 
perceptions. The training should commence 
when the child is three years of age. The 
following instructions should be observed: 
i. Each one of the exercises should be 
put before the child in a spirit of play. 

2. Absolute simplicity in tlie training 
is essential. The manner in which a game 
is played is of more importance than the 
game itself. A simple game or exercise 
taught in a complex manner will produce 
a confusion of ideas. 

3. Aim to produce one idea at a time 
in the mind of the child. 

4. In teaching both normal and sub- 
normal children the personality of the 
teacher plays an important part. She 

vii 



PRACTICAL TRAINING HINTS 

should be patient cheerful and optimistic, 
always ready with a word of encourage- 
ment when the child fails to produce the 
desired results ; thorough in her .methods 
and with keen power to observe. The 
mind of the teacher reacts upon the mind 
of the child : "Education is the process by 
which one mind forms another mind and 
one heart another heart." 

5. The principal weakness in most 
children is their inability to concentrate, 
and it is only by fixed methods of simple 
work, elimination of all confusion, and the 
conviction of the teacher that good results 
must emanate from her training, that she 
can develop and strengthen concentration 
in the child. The mode of procedure must 
not vary; children should be lined up in the 
same way, material of the same color used, 
and diagrams drawn to the same dimen- 
sions each time the game or exercise is 
used. Should the smallest alteration be 
made in these details, it will produce a 
confusion of ideas in the child's mind and 
successful training will not result. 

6. Make all questions and answers as 



PRACTICAL TRAINING HINTS 

concrete and brief as possible, avoid super- 
fluous detail and abstract ideas, for these 
tend to create confusion in the mind of 
the child. 

7. The signal given for starting a game 
should be brief, as, "Are you ready?" fol- 
lowed by the word "Go I" said sharply and 
clearly. A signal with too many words is 
confusing. Always use the same form of 
signal in starting a game. Should this be 
changed the game will not start success- 
fully, for the child's mind will be centered 
upon that change and he will lose the all- 
important idea, e.g., the start of the game. 
A game unsuccessfully started is a failure 
throughout. 

8. During exercises the teacher should 
observe the reaction and should the chil- 
dren show signs of fatigue^ or loss of in- 
terest, an exercise should be immediately 
changed. 

9. Make all exercises as attractive as 
possible. Aim to have an air of peace and 
tranquility in the schoolroom; tension in 
the slightest degree is disastrous to the 
training. The schoolroom should be made 



PRACTICAL TRAINING HINTS 

a pleasure-ground for the child. Bear in 
mind the best discipline always attends 
the most successful play. 

io. It is not advisable to keep a child 
for longer than one hour at a session. In 
a longer session it will be noticed the child 
becomes depressed or restless and power 
of concentration weakens. During the 
session a child should not be kept too 
long at one exercise; from four to fifteen 
minutes is sufficient for any of the exer- 
cises. A game played too many consecu- 
tive times in an effort to perfect it, loses 
its object. 

ii. Two inactive exercises should not 
follow each other consecutively. 

12. In teaching rhymes and songs, in- 
troduce simple action. It will help to de- 
velop sense of rhythm and aid the memory 
to a marked degree. The "Mother Goose" 
rhymes enclosed herein have been chosen 
for their rhythmic value and extreme sim- 
plicity. 

14. In drawing diagrams on a polished 
wood floor, better results may be obtained 
by moistening the chalk. 



PRACTICAL TRAINING HINTS 

The material in some of these exercises is 
being used to great advantage in the training 
rooms of Walter E. Fernald, M.D., Massa- 
chusetts School for Feeble-Minded, and 
George L. Wallace, Wrentham State School, 
Mass., to whom the author is indebted. 

The material used in these exercises and 
games is very simple. Bean bags should be 
made five inches square, of bright-colored 
cloth of heavy texture, and filled with small, 
hard beans. The wooden blocks should be 
eight inches in length, and one and a half 
inches on each side; the corners should be 
sharp so that they may be stood on end with- 
out difficulty. Rubber balls, medicine balls, 
and baseballs should be regulation size. 
Hilda A. Wrightson. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Single Line Block Building . 


. Frontispiece 




FACING PAGE 


Walking Exercise — I 


59 


Circle Hoop Game . , : 


. 83 


Rope Jumping . . : M M 


. , . 92 


Leap Frog ..... 


. 100 


Block and Basket Game . 


. 124 


Ball Throw .... 


. 175 


Competitive Bowling 


. 205 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN'S 
DEVELOPMENT 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG TOSS 

MATERIAL 

Shallow box, bean bags. 

Children sit in a circle on the floor, a dis- 
tance of three feet from each other. 

Place the box in the center of circle. Give 
each child a bean bag. 

Have the children each throw their bean 
bag, in turn, endeavoring to get it into the 
box in centre of the circle. 

Note. — This game is especially adapted 
for crippled children and those unable to 
take part in active games. 

OBJECT 

Train eye and hand; to stimulate play 
spirit. 



17 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red, blue, and yellow 
blocks. 

Children sit in semi-circle. Give each 
child one block. 

Make three chalk circles in a row on the 
floor in front of class; place a red block in 
one, a blue block in the second, and a yellow 
block in the third. 

Call upon children to come in turn and 
place their blocks in circles calling for like 
colors. 

Do not allow second child to play until 
first child has returned to her seat, thereby 
avoiding confusion. Do not call the colors 
by name at this period of training; children 
will match them more successfully by sense 
of sight alone. 

OBJECT 

To develop color sense and concentration. 



iS 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"PAT-A-CAKE" 

Have class seated in half circle on small 
chairs. 

Teach children the following rhyme, say- 
ing the words slowly and distinctly so that 
the children may more readily understand, 
and have them clap their hands in rhythm 
to the words ; 

"Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man. 
Bake me a cake as fast as you can. 
Pat it, and prick it, and mark it with T, 
Put it in the oven fbr Tommy and me." 

OBJECT 

Memory; rhythm; increase vocabulary. 



19 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND CONCENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

Soap, spoon, cup, doll, ball, comb, tooth- 
brush, or any article with which the child 
is apt to come in contact in daily life. 

The teacher should place these articles in 
a row on the table, and then call upon one 
of the children to give her the toothbrush. 
Say the words slowly and distinctly that the 
child may understand exactly what is 
wanted. When the child has handed the 
toothbrush to the teacher, ask for each ar- 
ticle in turn. 

- If the child is unable to concentrate for 
sufficient length of time to pick up the de- 
sired article, do not try to force his atten- 
tion; send the child to his seat with a word 
of encouragement, and try the exercise each 
succeeding day until slowly but surely the 
child's attention will become strong enough 
to master the exercise. 



20 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEMORY AND COMMAND 

Teacher calls upon three children to 
stand on chalk line made for that purpose 
in front of class. Call names distinctly, 
but do not make a pause between each name. 
The children whose names are called will 
leave their seats and stand side by side on 
chalk line. 

If three names are too confusing for the 
children to remember, teacher should use 
only two to start the exercise. 

As the children improve the numbers of 
names may be slowly increased, always 
bearing in mind it is better to have 
the exercise too simple rather than too com- 
plicated for the child. 

OBJECT 

Memory; attention; command. 



21 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BALL THROW 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Children stand in group at one end of. the 
room. 

Teacher throws medicine ball into their 
midst, the child catching the ball throws it 
back to teacher, who will immediately repeat 
the exercise. Encourage children to run after 
the ball when it falls to the ground. Do not 
call upon any particular child to catch the 
ball; by throwing it in their midst and let- 
ting those catch it who can, the children 
will become more alert. 

Should a child be very slow, it is well to 
call upon that child in particular to catch. 

OBJECT 

Training of eye and hand; attention; spon- 
taneous activity. 



22 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE" 

Have the children seated. Teach the 
following rhyme, saying the words slowly 
and distinctly^: 

"One, two, three, four, five; 
I caught a fish alive, 
Why did you let it go? 
Because it bit my finger so." 

The children should clap their hands while 
repeating the above words. 

OBJECT 

Memory; rhythm; increase vocabulary. 



23 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BASEBALL BOWLING 

MATERIAL 

Two dozen bright colored blocks, six 
colored baseballs. Colors: Red, blue and 
yellow. 

Draw a chalk circle three feet in diameter ; 
make a starting line fifteen feet from the 
circle. 

Place the blocks on end inside the circle, 
not too closely together. 

Call upon a child, have her stand on start- 
ing line and bowl the balls one at a time, 
endeavoring to knock down as many blocks 
as possible. 

Continue the exercise in this way having 
the children play in turn. 

Choose one child to pick up the fallen 
blocks, and another to pick up scattered 
balls. 

OBJECT 

To develop sureness of aim; attention; na- 
tural activity. 



24 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SILENCE PERIOD 

It is very important that a period of silence 
be maintained from three to five minutes dur- 
ing one hour classes. 

Have the children sit with arms folded 
and knees close together, each child erect 
in his seat. Have perfect quiet in the class- 
room. 

Do not allow the silence to become tense 
and strained, the object of the exercise is 
tranquillity and rest. 

Teachers will find after a period of silence 
children lose their restlessness and concen- 
trate more readily. 

OBJECT 

Rest; attention; tranquillity. 



25 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK PLACING 

MATERIAL 

Wooden blocks of one color, according to 
number of children playing. 

Make a line of small chalk crosses on the 
floor twelve inches between each cross ; draw 
a starting line parallel with crosses, eighteen 
feet between. 

Give each child a block and have them 
stand in position on starting line. 

At a given signal have children run and 
place their blocks each on one of the crosses ; 
they then run back to starting line. 

The blocks must be placed on end upon 
the crosses; should a block fall, the child 
must place it upright again. 

This exercise may be repeated three or four 
consecutive times. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; to stimulate 
the spirit of play; voluntary activity. 



26 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR EXERCISE 



MATERIAL 



Six bright colored balls — two red, two 
blue, two yellow. 

Place three balls on the table, one of eacfi 
color, teacher holding the duplicates. 

Hold up the red ball that all may see it, and 
call upon A to pick out ball of same color 
on the table. When A has picked out red 
ball, teacher should then hold up blue ball, 
and call upon B to find duplicate. Do not 
call the balls by color name. The child will 
develop color sense more quickly if name of 
color is omitted at this period of training. 

OBJECT 

Color sense; attention; independent 
thought. 



27 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROLLING ROUNDERS 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Children sit in a circle, five feet of space 
between each player. 

The ball must be rolled from one player 
to the next, all the way round the circle; 
choose one player, to run after the ball when 
it rolls away from the circle. 

For variety the ball may also Ee rolled 
across the circle. 

This game is especially beneficial for 
crippled children, and tHose unable to take 
part in active games. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; play spirit. 



28 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND IMITATION 

Have children quietly seated in class. 
Teacher should give the following com- 
mands, carrying out the action of each one 
for children to imitate. 

1. Every child point to his eyes. 

2. Every child point to his nose. 

3. Every child point to his mouth. 

4. Every child point. to his ears. 

5. Every child put out his hands. 

6. Every child put out his feet. 

Do not insist that children obey these com- 
mands ; observation will soon create a desire 
to imitate the actions of the other children 
in class. 

Ask no questions regarding the use of the 
above parts of the body at this period of 
training. 

OBJECT 

Command; attention; imitation. 



29 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK" 

Have the children seated in half circle on 
small chairs. 

Teach the following rhyme, speaking each 
word slowly and distinctly; 

"Hickory, dickory, dock, 
The mouse ran up the clock; 
The clock struck one, 
The mouse ran down, 
Hickory, dickory, dock." 

Children should clap their hands while re- 
peating the rhyme. 

OBJECT 

Idea association ; increase vocabulary ; 
memory. 



30 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEDICINE BALL THROW 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Children stand in semi-circle. 

Teacher should throw ball to a child in 
class, the child then throws the ball back to 
teacher. The ball is again thrown to an- 
other child in class, the game continuing in 
this way, teacher throwing the ball and chil- 
dren returning it. 

Do not play in rotation; the children's at- 
tention will be held better if ball is thrown 
unexpectedly to different parts of the class. 

OBJECT 

Attention; to develop play spirit; stimulate 
activity. 



31 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MARCHING AND CLAPPING 

Have the children seated in a semi-circle. 

Teacher should give commands clearly and 
with precision. 

Children should keep rhythmic time in 
marching and clapping. 

.1 "All stand; heels together; arms 
down." 

2. "All turn to the door and mark time." 

3. "Forward march, and clap hands." 

4. "Arms down; mark time; halt; one, 
two." 

5. "Mark time." 

6. "Forward march, slowly; clap hands." 
slowly." 

7. "March quickly; ciap hands quickly." 

8. "Arms down; mark time." 

9. "Halt; one, two." 

Have children "mark time" before start- 
ing to march. By doing this marching is 
more rhythmic and confusion is eliminated. 

Note. — Do not use the expression "right" 
and "left" until children are well advanced. 

OBJECT 

Attention; discipline; motor control, 



32 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SHOE-LACING EXERCISE 

Draw a straight chalk line on floor and 
have children stand with feet together on 
the line. 

At command, children should sit on floor 
and take off one shoe. 

It is advisable for the teacher to unfasten 
the bow on each child's shoe before the exer- 
cise begins, as they are apt to pull their 
laces into innumerable knots, thereby caus- 
ing much confusion. 

When each child has removed one shoe, 
teacher may tell them all to put shoes on 
again, and see who can lace his first. 

OBJECT 
Attention; develop natural energy; co- 
ordination. 



33 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG THROW 

MATERIAL 

Three bean bags, red, blue* and yellow in 
color. 

Teacher should draw a chalk circle on floor 
three feet in diameter, and make a starting 
line twelve feet from circle. 

Have child stand on starting line and 
throw each bean bag, endeavoring to get 
them into the chalked circle. 

This game may be made competitive by 
having two circles and calling upon two chil- 
dren to play at the same time; in such cases 
have red bean bags used in one circle and 
blue bean bags in the other. 

OBJECT 

Training eye and hand; to develop play 
spirit. 



34 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR AND FORM PUZZLES— I 

Twelve-inch pieces of thin wood, painted 
in bright shades of red, blue and yellow. 
Forms: Circle, square, and oblong, each 
being divided irregularly into two sections. 




Give each child four pieces; for example, 
two pieces of red which, when correctly 
placed together form one red circle, and two 
pieces of blue comprising one blue square. 
The next child may have two yellow pieces 
forming a yellow circle, and two. red pieces 
forming a red oblong. 

Children should be seated at a low table 
for this exercise. 

OBJECT 

Color; form; concentration. 
35 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



TIPTOE EXERCISE 

Have the children sit quiet; let no noise be 
heard in the room; maintain this silence for 
two minutes before starting exercise. 

Teacher calls upon A to perform; he 
should stand up with arms folded and walk 
on tiptoe around teacher's chair (or to a 
given point) and back to his seat. 

Teacher continues the exercise in this way, 
encouraging each child to do just a little 
better than the preceding child. 

Four minutes is sufficient length of time 
for this exercise. 

OBJECT 
Rest; discipline; motor control; tran- 
quillity. 



36 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PULLING EXERCISE 

MATERIAL 

A strong rope about twelve feet in length. 

Choose six players as evenly matched in 
size and weight as possible. 

Make two starting lines four feet apart 
on which the leader of each side will stand. 

At a given signal the three players on one 
side should pull in an opposite direction from 
the three players on the other side. 

When this exercise is started some of the 
children will be apt to let go of the rope 
when they feel others pulling, and some will 
pull aimlessly, neither giving help to one side 
or the other. Do not try to force the child 
to pull the rope in the right way. Contin- 
ual use of this exercise will bring about de- 
sired results. 

OBJECT 

To develop muscular force; concentra- 
tion; voluntary effort. 



37 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND CONCENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

Red ball; blue bean bag. 

Place the above articles on table and call 
upon child to perform. 

Teacher gives commands in the following 
order, speaking slowly and distinctly: 

Pick up ball and hold it. 
Pick up bean bag and hold it. 
Put down ball. 
Put down bean bag. 
Pick up ball and hold it. 
Put down ball and pick up bean bag and 
hold it. 

Put down bean bag. 

Teacher should pause between each com- 
mand, that the child may not become con- 
fused. 



38 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



GUESSING GAME 

Have the class seated in a semi-circle. 
Teacher should stand in front of the class 
and imitate the action of cleaning teeth. Ask 
the question "What am I doing ?" 

Teacher then imitates the action of scrub- 
bing floor, brushing hair, washing face, or 
any simple action the child may recognize. 

Having repeated this exercise on several 
occasions, call upon a child to stand in front 
of the class and reproduce an action she 
may remember. The child in class, guessing 
the correct answer to the action, should then 
take Her place, and in this way the game 
continues. 

Teacher should make the actions more dif- 
ficult to recognize as the children improve 
in the game. 

OBJECT 

Association of ideas; initiative; independ- 
ent thought. 



39 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BALL SCRAMBLE 

MATERIAL 

Three dozen bright colored baseballs; 
one dozen red, one dozen blue and one dozen 
yellow. Shallow box to hold balls. 

Children stand in an informal group at 
one end of the room. 

Teacher should throw the balls into the 
air, letting them fall to the floor some dis- 
tance from the children, who immediately 
run to pick up the fallen balls. 

Do not correct the children if they laugh 
loudly and make a noise, for to arouse them 
from depression and sluggishness is one ob- 
ject of the exercise. 

When the balls are picked up the chil- 
dren should plate them in the box. They 
then take their place for another scramble. 

This exercise may be repeated from three 
to six times in succession. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; attention; natural energy, 



40 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PAPER PICK UP 

Have the children seated in half-circle on 
small chairs. 

Tear or cut a newspaper into pieces not 
less than two inches in length. 

Place a waste basket at hand; scatter, the 
paper on the floor in front of the class. 

On command the children should leave 
their seats, pick up the paper, and put it 
into the basket. 

When all the paper is picked up, teacher 
should give the command for children to 
return to their seats. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; command; develop useful 
activity, 



41 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BELL CIRCLE 

MATERIAL 

Six bright colored baseballs; one bell. 

Children sit in a circle on the floor, a small 
space between each child. Use an active 
child for running after balls that go astray. 

Place the bell in the center of the circle 
and give six of the children each a baseball. 

The children should play in order, each 
one rolling his ball and endeavoring to hit 
the bell and make it ring. 

This game is very good for crippled chil- 
dren, and those unable to take part in run- 
ning games. 

OBJECT 

To develop play spirit; attention; volun- 
tary effort. 



42 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SIT AND STAND 

The class should be seated in a half-circle 
on kindergarten chairs. 

Children sit erect, arms folded, feet to- 
gether. 

At a given signal all children stand ; there 
must be no scuffling of feet; no movements 
of the arms or confusion of any kind; all 
stand promptly. Signal will then be given 
for the children to sit; this must also be 
done with precision. 

This exercise may be repeated four or five 
consecutive times. 

Note. — To vary exercise children may 
clasp their hands tightly behind their backs, 
each hand grasping an elbow. The exer- 
cise is more difficult to perform with arms 
folded in this manner, and calls for more de- 
cided control of the muscles. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; discipline. 



43 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SENSE OF DIRECTION 

Place four chairs in a straight row; call 
upon four children to sit in these chairs; 
tell each child to notice the chair in which 
she is sitting and the child next to whom 
she is sitting. 

On signal have children get up from 
chairs and walk the whole way around the 
room. When they reach their chairs again, 
each child must sit in precisely the same 
chair she Had when exercise began. 

As children advance in this exercise the 
number of chairs may be increased, always 
taking care lest the exercise become too com- 
plex. 

OBJECT 

Direction; independent thought; natural 
effort. 



44 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HOOP GAME 



MATERIAL 



A wooden hoop four feet in diameter, 
bound in bright blue or red; six bean bags, 
three red and three blue. 

Have two of the pupils hold hoop in a 
vertical position three feet from the ground, 
children meanwhile standing in a group on 
one side of hoop at a distance of twelve feet, 
teacher standing on opposite side. 

Teacher then throws bean bags one at a 
time through the hoop to the children on the 
opposite side. When children have all the 
bean bags on their side they should throw 
them back through hoop to teacher, and 
game will be repeated. 

The weaker and more deficient children 
should be given special attention in these 
group games and exercises, or they will be 
pushed to the wall by their stronger com- 
panions and derive no benefit whatever. 

OBJECT 
To stimulate play spirit; train hand and 
eye; attention. 

45 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FLAG MARCHING 

MATERIAL 

Twelve-inch flags, one drum. 

Line up children by twos according to 
height. Give each child a flag, and have him 
carry it over his right shoulder. 

Teacher should give the command "Mark 
time" and make a single beat on the drum 
for every step of the right foot, counting 
one, two; one, two; right foot down on the 
word one, which must be emphasized. 

The command to "Halt; one, two," should 
then be given and the drum cease beating 
with the command. 

After a brief rest, again give the command, 
"Mark time," followed by, "Forward 
march," The drum should immediately 
change to brisk march time in response to 
the command, "Forward march" and the 
children should march around tKe room, 
keeping step to the music. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; rhythm; discipline. 

4 6 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"I LOVE LITTLE PUSSY" 

Have children seated in a half circle on 
kindergarten chairs. 

Teach the following rhyme saying the 
words slowly and distinctly: 

"I love little pussy her coat is so warm; 
And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no 

harm; 
So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away, 
But pussy and I very gently will play." 

OBJECT 

Memory; idea association; increase vocab- 
ulary. 



47 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WHO IS MISSING? 

Have the class seated in a semi-circle. 

Call upon A and blindfold him. Have B 
leave the class quietly and hide. The blinder 
is then taken from A's eyes, he should look 
around the class, endeavoring to name the 
missing one. 

Should he make a guess that is not cor- 
rect, the children in class all shake their 
heads; should he guess correctly they clap 
their hands. 

The game continues in this way, children 
performing in their turn. 

OBJECT 

Observation; concentration; independent 
thought. 



48 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SIGHT EXERCISE 

MATERIAL 

Articles of every-day use, pointer. 

Teacher should place a number of articles 
on the table. Use only articles with which 
the child is familiar, e.g., spoon, cup, brush; 
soap; ball. 

When the exercise is started use only six 
articles and as the child progresses, slowly 
increase number. 

Call a child from class; teacher will point 
out different articles on the table; have the 
child answer the names of articles as quick- 
ly as possible. 

Should the child be unable to talk, teach- 
er should call names of different articles and 
have child touch them with pointer as they 
are called. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; memory; sight. 



49 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CHAIR RACE 

Place six chairs in a straight line, with 
backs to the wall. Chalk a starting line 
eighteen feet from chairs, and call upon 
seven children to stand on it. 

At a given signal children should run and 
each child sit on a chair; the odd player not 
fortunate enough to get a chair is out. 

Take one chair away and repeat game. 
The game continues until one chair is left 
and two children to run. 

The child successful in getting that chair 
wins the race. 

OBJECT 

To develop muscular control; attention; 



50 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE BLIND MAN 

Children form a circle with hands joined. 

Choose five players for the centre of cir- 
cle, put a blinder on one of the five. 

On a given signal the blindfolded player en- 
deavors to catch one of the other players in 
the centre. When one child is caught the 
five children take their places in the circle 
and five others are chosen for the centre. 

Should there be a large number of chil- 
dren playing, more than four may be chosen 
for the centre to dodge the blindman. 

No player is allowed to run out of the ring. 

OBJECT 

Spirit of play, initiative. 



51 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



NAMING ARTICLES 

MATERIAL 

Small articles of every-day use, such as: 
spoon, cup doll, ball, book, brush; pointer. 

Place the articles on a table in front of the 
class. 

When the exercise is started use six ar- 
ticles; as the children progress, gradually 
increase the number. 

Call a child from the class. Teacher, point 
out different articles on the table. Have the 
child repeat the name of each article as it is 
touched by pointer. 

Should the child be unable to talk, teacher 
calls the names of the different articles on 
the table, and the child should touch them 
with the pointer as they are called. 

OBJECT 

Memory; concentration; sight training. 



52 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"BAA-BAA BLACK SHEEP" 

Have the children stand in a circle, a dis- 
tance of three feet between each child. 

Choose two children for the centre of the 
circle, one to represent "Little Boy" and the 
other "Black Sheep." 

"Little Boy" should stand with his hands 
to his eyes in an attitude of crying, and 
"Black Sheep" should kneel on the floor next 
to "Little Boy." 

Teach the following verse: 

"Baa-Baa black sheep, have you any wool? 
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full; 
One for the master, one for the dame, 
But none for the little boy 
Who cries in the lane." 

Have the children in the circle clap while 
repeating the above verse, until they come 
to "But none for the little boy," they then 
move to the centre of the circle and clap 
their hands close to "Little Boy" and 
"Black Sheep," returning to original position 
at the close of the rhyme. 

"Little Boy" and "Black Sheep" remain in 
tKe same position throughout the rhyme. 

53 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BUTTONING EXERCISE 

MATERIAL 

Button strips should be made of bright 
blue and bright red cloth eighteen inches in 
length and two inches in width. Have six 
buttons on one strip, and six buttonholes on 
another, strip of corresponding color. 

Make a straight chalk line on the floor. 
Have children stand side by side on the line. 

Give each child two strips, of correspond- 
ing color, one with buttons and one with 
buttonholes. 

Direct children to start at the end of each 
strip and put the buttons into the button- 
holes. 

Do not continue this exercise for longer 
than eight minutes. 

At another session the children may be 
given the button strips already fastened, and 
be taught to unfasten it. 

OBJECT 
To co-ordinate hand and brain; to create 
the desire and the ability to dress; useful 
activity. 

54 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DIRECTION AND COMMAND 

MATERIAL 

Cup, spoon, hair brush, or any article 
familiar to the child. 

Teacher should place above articles in dif- 
ferent parts of the room; for instance, put 
the cup on a chair; the spoon on the table; 
the hair brush on another chair. Each article 
must be in such a position it can easily be 
seen by the child. 

Call upon A to bring the cup to teacher; 
call upon B to bring the spoon; continue the 
exercise in this way, calling upon different 
children to perform until all the articles have 
been brought to teacher. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; useful activity. 



55 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



VISUALIZATION 

Have class seated in semi-circle. 

Place four different articles in a row on 
the table; these articles must be objects 
with which the child is familiar, such as: 
soap, cup, spoon, comb. Call upon a child 
and ask him to look at the articles on the 
table then blindfold his eyes and remove the 
cup from the table ; take bandage from child's 
eyes and ask him to name the missing article. 

Should the child be unable to visualize as 
many as four articles, use three to start the 
exercise. When children can readily visual- 
ize four, slowly increase number of articles. 

OBJECT 

Memory ; concentration ; visual training. 



56 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PLAY DAYS 

The following rhyme will be found use- 
ful in aiding the children to remember the 
days of the week, and the order in which 
they come: 

"How many days has my baby to play? 
Saturday, Sunday, Monday. 
Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 
Saturday, Sunday, Monday." 

The children should repeat the above 
*hyme slowly, clapping their hands in rhythm 
while doing so. 

OBJECT 

Memory; attention; increase vocabulary. 



57 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SINGLE LINE BLOCK STANDING 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red, blue and yellow 
blocks. 

Line up children in single file, according 
to height. Chalk floor as per diagram. Give 
each child a block. 




The leader stands on starting line. At 
a given signal he will run and place his block 
on end in the circle after which he will run 
to rear of line, and second child will take his 
turn. 

Should a child knock other blocks down 
while placing his, he must stand them up 
again before taking his place at rear of line. 

Continue until each child has placed his 
block. 

OBJECT 

Attention; muscular control; natural ef- 
fort; spirit of play. 

58 




WALKING EXERCISE— I 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WALKING EXERCISE.— I 

Teacher should chalk a straight line along 
the floor. 

i. Have child walk line slowly, taking 
care to place both heel and toe on line at 
every step. 

2. Walk line with hands placed firmly 
on hips and elbows out. 

3. Walk line with hands clasping el- 
bows at back. 

4. Walk line with hands clasped in 
nape of neck; elbows out. 

5. Walk line with arms outstretched on 
level with shoulders, fingers straight, 
palms down. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; co-ordination. 



59 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND OBSERVATION 

Have the children seated in a half circle 
on small chairs. 

Teacher should call upon A to stand in 
one corner of the room : do not designate as 
to which part of the room is the corner; call 
on B to go to another corner; tell C and D to 
go to the other two corners ; tell E to stand 
in the middle of the room. 

When this is accomplished, send the five 
children to their seats and choose another 
five to repeat the exercise. 

OBJECT 

Observation ; command. 



60 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BROAD JUMP 

Teacher should draw two parallel lines 
with eight inches of space between. Should 
this game be played out of doors, long sticks 
will readily take the place of chalk lines. 
Line up children in single file according to 
height, and at a given signal first player runs 
and jumps over the parallel lines; the other 
players follow in their turn. 

Players should line up each time they have 
jumped, and stand in position until last play- 
er has jumped. 

Having failed twice in succession a player 
should take his seat until the end of the 
game. 

Teacher should widen jumping-space 
about two inches each time, or according to 
the ability of players. 

To gain correct results this exercise must 
be carried out with method and precision. 

OBJECT 

Motor force; concentratign; spontaneous 
activitv. 



61 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



EXERCISE IN BALANCE 

MATERIAL 

Spoon and ball. 

Chalk two parallel lines on the floor 
eighteen feet apart. 

Have child balance ball in spoon and walk 
from starting line to the opposite line, and 
back to starting line, No effort at speed is 
necessary. 

This exercise may be varied by making it 
competitive. Have two children walk at the 
same time, each carrying a spoon and balanc- 
ing a ball. The child that gets back to start- 
ing line first wins the game. 

OBJECT 

Sense of balance; concentration. 



62 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"LITTLE JACK HORNER" 

Have the children seated quietly. 

Call upon one child, preferably the small- 
est, to represent Jack; he should sit in a cor- 
ner where he can readily be seen by the class. 
Have Jack hold something in his lap to repre- 
sent a pie. He should imitate the action of 
eating while the rhyme is being repeated by 
the rest of the class : 

"Little Jack Horner 

Sat in a corner; 

Eating Christmas pie. 

He put in his thumb, 

And pulled out a plum, 

And said what a good boy am I." 

The children should point to Jack with 
their right arms outstretched, until they 
come to the word "pie." They should then 
imitate the action of putting their fingers into 
a pie. On the last line all clap their hands 
merrily; Jack joining in with the rest. 

OBJECT 

Idea association; imaginative activity; in- 
crease vocabulary. 

63 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SINGLE LINE MEDICINE BALL 
BOWLING 

MATERIAL 

One medicine ball, two dozen red blocks. 

Draw a chalk circle three feet in diameter; 
make a starting line fifteen feet from the cir- 
cle. 

Stand the blocks on end closely together in 
the chalk circle. Call upon a child, have her 
stand on the starting line, and bowl the ball 
in an effort to knock down as many of the 
blocks as possible in one throw. Choose one 
child to replace the fallen blocks. 

Continue the exercise in this way until 
each child has played in turn. 

OBJECT 

Attention ; motor control ; play spirit. 



6 4 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HEARING AND CONCENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

A small clock. 

Have the children seated in a half circle on 
kindergarten chairs. 

For this exercise absolute quiet must be 
maintained in the room. 

Teacher should blindfold a child; place the 
clock anywhere in the room, some distance 
from the child, then tell the child to go and 
find the clock. The child will listen for the 
ticking of the clock, and guided by her sense 
of hearing, should go to the place where it 
is. 

Repeat the exercise, calling upon children 
in turn to perform. 

OBJECT 

Rest; hearing. 



65 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG THROW 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red and blue bean bags. 

Have children stand in two straight lines, 
with leaders on starting lines, as in diagram. 

Give each child a bean bag, one side hold- 
ing red and one side blue. 

At a given signal the two leaders throw 
their bean bags, endeavoring to get them 
into the chalk circles; they then run to the 
rear of their lines, and second players throw 
their bean bags and also run to rear of lines. 
The game continues in this way until all 
bean bags have been played; the side having 
the greater number of bean bags in the circle 
wins. 

OBJECT 

Spirit of competitive play; attention; 
useful activity. 



66 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




p — 20 Feet — 

n 



X X X X X X 



o 



— 20 Feet — o 



X X X X X X 



67 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"HUSH-A-BYE" 

Have children stand in a semi-circle, they 
should fold their arms and rock them with 
a rhythmic movement while repeating the 
following words: 

"Hush-a-bye baby, on the tree top ; 

When the wind blows the cradle will 
rock; 

When the bough breaks the cradle will 
fall; 

Down will come baby, bough, cradle 
and all." 

OBJECT 
Imaginative activity; memory. 



68 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SINGLE FILE MARCHING 

MATERIAL 

Twelve-inch flags. 

Line up children according to height in 
single file. Give each child a flag. 

A simple, well-accented march should be 
played on the piano during this exercise. 

Have children march around the room 
twice, then march diagonally from one cor- 
ner to the other. They should then march 
in a small circle, then around the room again 
and finally come to position in a straight line 
in the center of room. 

Teacher then gives the command "Face 
front," followed by "Present flags," at which, 
children will hold out their flags, handles 
foremost, for teacher to collect. 

Flags should be presented and collected 
in this manner after each exercise in which 
flags are used. 

Victrola music may be substituted for 
piano music, provided the march time be well 
accented. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; discipline; rhythm. 

6 9 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"MISTRESS MARY" 

Teacher speaks slowly and distinctly while 
repeating the following rhyme, that the chil- 
dren may readily understand the words : 

"Mistress Mary, quite contrary, 
How does your garden grow? 
With silver bells and cockle shells 
And little girls all in a row." 

Have the children stand in a circle, with 
two feet distance between each child; have 
one child stand in the centre of the circle 
to represent Mistress Mary. 

On the first two lines the children in the 
circle bow slowly to the child in the centre; 
on the third line they should imitate the 
action of ringing a bell. On the last line they 
all join hands and skip around. 

OBJECT 

Memory; imaginative activity; increase 
vocabulary. 



70 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SINGLE LINE HOOP GAME 

MATERIAL 

A light wooden hoop, three and a half feet 
in diameter; red bean bags. 

Line up players in a single file; give each 
player a bean bag. 

Have two players hold hoop in a horizon- 
tal position about four feet from the ground. 
Make a chalk starting line ten feet from hoop 
on which leaders will stand. 

At a given signal leader should throw hi$ 
bean bag through the hoop and then run to 
the rear of the line; each" player will throw in 
turn, the game continuing until all bean bags 
have been played and leader is once more on 
starting line. 

OBJECT 
Accuracy of aim; to develop play spirit; 
attention. 



7i 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FLAT RELAY RACE 

Place children in two lines of equal num- 
ber, according to height. Leaders stand on 
starting lines. 

Leader on one side will hold a red bean 
bag, and leader on the other side a blue bean 
bag. 

At a given signal the leaders start off and 
run around chalk marks and back to start- 
ing line. As they pass second runner they 
give him the bean bag; on receiving same, 
he immediately runs as the leader did, and on 
his way to the rear of line hands the bean 
bag to the next child. 

The side having its leader back on starting 
line first wins the race. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; stimulate 
activity. 



72 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



r^\ ° 


Feet— f \ 


T 


1 

! 


LEADER 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


LEADER 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 



73 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SCHOOLROOM OBSERVATION 

MATERIAL 

Five inch squares of glass, wood, paper, 
iron, tin and cloth ; pointer. 

Teacher hands the piece of glass to A, 
giving him also a pointer. Tell him to 
point out anything in the room that is made 
of glass, the substance which he holds in his 
hand. 

Call B and hand him a piece of wood; ask 
him to point out anything he can find in the 
room made of that substance. 

Continue the exercise in this manner. 

OBJECT 
To stimulate observation; idea association; 
independent thought. 



74 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BIRD-FLYING EXERCISE 

Have children perfectly quiet. 

Call upon A to imitate a bird. 

A must run on tiptoes, with arms out- 
stretched and waving slightly to imitate a 
bird's wings. She must go the whole way 
around the room and back to her seat, it 
being done with the least possible noise. 

For variation, the teacher may call upon 
three birds to fly together. They should 
follow one chosen for leader, and fly quietly 
around the room and back to their seats. 

Have children repeat rhyme or song per- 
taining to birds during an interval in this 
exercise and they will more readily con- 
ceive the idea of imitating a bird. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; rest; active imagina- 
tion. 



75 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ACTION SONG 

Tune: "The Night before the Fourth." 
Have class sit in half-circle on kindergar- 
ten chairs, and interpret the different actions 
as they occur in the song. 

i 

We'll all stand up together, 
We'll all stand up together, 
We'll all stand up together, 
As all good children do. 

2 
We'll all clap hands together. 

3 
We'll all keep step together. 

4 
We'll all march round together. 

5 
We'll all join hands together. 

6 
We'll all sit down together. 

There is a good swing to the tune and 
action of this song which will stimulate in- 
terest and sense of rhythm in the child. 

7 6 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DAYS OF WEEK.— I 

Have the class seated in a half circle on' 
kindergarten chairs. 

Teach children to say the seven days of the 
week with the assistance of their hands, tick- 
ing off one finger for each d.ay. Have them 
say each syllable very slowly and rhythmical- 
ly, as Sun-day, Mon-day, Tues-day, Wednes- 
day, Thurs-day, Fri-day and Satur-day. This 
exercise must be practiced slowly and delib- 
erately to gain the desired result, and chil- 
dren will learn it much the same way as a 
nursery rhyme, 

OBJECT 

Memory; stimulate thought. 



77 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DAYS OF WEEK.— II 

After having taught children to memorize 
days of week with the assistance of their fin- 
gers, teacher should use the power of asso- 
ciation of ideas to teach children to know the 
name of each day as it comes. 

For example: Sunday is the day on which 
we go to Sunday School. Monday is the day 
on which mother does the washing; and so 
continue using the association of the un- 
varying routine of the child's life to impress 
upon the memory the name of each day in its 
correct order. 

OBJECT 

Memory; stimulate thought; association 
of ideas. 



78 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



RUNNING EXERCISE 

After a passive exercise children often 
become restless; in such cases, this exercise 
will be found beneficial. 

Commands to be given with precision, e.g., 
"children stand," "feet together," "heads up/' 
"arms double." "are you ready?" "run!" 

Before this exercise can be successfully 
carried out, the child must be taught to rec- 
ognize each command. 

On the signal, "arms double," children 
clench fists tightly and double arms up so 
that the fore arm is horizontal with the el- 
bow; keep elbows well in to the sides. 

On the signal, "run!" children remain in 
position and perform the movements of run- 
ning. 

The shoulders must be kept well back, and 
feet raised to the knees at each running step. 

This exercise may be varied by allowing 
the children to run in a circle for three 
minutes, afterward quietly taking their seats. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; discipline; attention. 



79 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"BABY DOLLY" 

Teach the following words, having the 
children clap rhythmically while repeating 
them: 

"Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry, 
And I'll give you some bread and some milk 

bye-and-bye ; 
Or, perhaps you like custard, or, maybe, a 

tart; 
Then to either you're welcome, with all my 

heart." 

Have the words repeated slowly and care- 
fully enunciated to correct speech defects. 

OBJECT 

Increase vocabulary; stimulate thought. 



80 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DIRECTION AND ATTENTION 

Have children seated in class. 

Teacher call upon A, tell him to walk 
to door and remain there. Call upon B to 
walk to window and stay there. Call C to 
walk to table and remain. 

As many as twelve children may be called 
upon to go in different directions ; they must 
remain in position until told to go to their 
seats. Teacher should call upon each child 
separately, when sending them to their seats. 

This exercise may, be simplified by calling 
upon only three children, and gradually in- 
creasing the number. 

OBJECT 

Observation; sense of direction; attention; 
command. 



81 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE 
STAR" 

Teach the following poem, saying the 
words slowly and distinctly: 

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, 
How I wonder what you are. 
Up above the world so high, 
Like a diamond in the sky." 

It is well to question children regarding 
the above poem, to determine as to whether 
they understand the different words and ex- 
pressions. For example, "Where is the 
sky?" "Who has seen a star?" "When do the 
stars shine?" In this manner we find poetry 
a valuable help in strengthening the power 
of association of ideas. 

OBJECT 

Memory; language; association of ideas. 



82 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE HOOP GAME 

MATERIAL 

Hoop, three and a half feet in diameter. 
Equal number of red and blue bean bags. 

Players form a circle, four feet distance be- 
tween each child. 

Have two players hold the hoop in the 
centre of the circle about four feet from the 
ground in a horizontal position. 

Give each player a bean bag, alternating 
red and blue. 

At a given signal one child should throw 
his bean bag, endeavoring to get it through 
the hoop ; each player will throw in turn until 
all bean bags have been played. 

Should the red bean bags have the greater 
number thrown through the hoop, the play- 
ers who hold that color win the game; the 
same principle applies to those holding blue. 

OBJECT 

To develop play spirit; accuracy of aim; 
natural effort. 



83 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR AND FORM PUZZLES— II 

MATERIAL 

Twelve-inch pieces of thin wood in blue, 
red, yellow and green colors, of square, cir- 
cle, oval, and diamond form. 

Each form must be cut into three irregular 
pieces. Have children stand at a table. Give 
each child six pieces, with which he should 
make two complete forms, for example, three 
yellow pieces, forming an oval, and three 
green pieces forming a diamond. 

OBJECT 

Color; form; concentration; constructive 
activity. 



84 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




85 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DRILL.— ARM SWINGING 

Line up children by twos according to 
height. 

Give the command "Mark time," followed 
by "Forward march !" Children should 
march around the room twice and then down 
centre. On reaching the lower end of the 
room, partners should separate, turn in the 
opposite directions, and march up the room 
in two single lines eighteen feet apart. 

Space children that they may have suf- 
ficient room for arm swinging. 

Teacher should give the following com- 
mands, accompanying the action with the 
words : 

1. "Stand at position, heels together, 
arms down." 

2. "Hands on hips, hands on shoulders, 
hands on heads, hands up; hands on heads, 
hands on shoulders, hands on hips, hands 
down." (Repeat four times.) 



86 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



3 , "Clap hands once in front, once be- 
hind, keep elbows straight." (Repeat six 
times.) 

4. "Hands on hips, heels raise, heels 
sink." (Repeat six times.) 

5. "Arms swing straight up, straight 
down." Keep the body erect and the feet 
still during this movement. (Repeat four 
times.) 

6. Hands on shoulders, arms up ; hands 
on shoulders, arms down. (Repeat twice.') 
Hands on shoulders, arms straight out in 
front; hands on shoulders, arms down. 
(Repeat twice.) Hands on shoulders, 
arms out straight each side; hands on 
shoulders, arms down. (Repeat twice.) 
Commands should be given and carried 

out with precision to obtain desired results, 

OBJECT 

Motor training; discipline; command. 



87 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FARMYARD GAME 

Have class sit in semi-circle. 

Teacher should call upon A to imitate a 
dog, e.g., go down on his hands and knees 
and run along the floor, at the same time 
imitating the bark of a dog; he will then re- 
turn to his seat. Call upon B to imitate a 
cow; C to imitate a sheep; D to imitate a 
cat, and so forth, until the children have 
each an animal in mind to imitate. 

If the class is large have several children 
imitate the same animal. 

When the game has been played in this 
manner several times, and the children have 
become familiar with the sounds the dif- 
ferent animals make, the teacher should as- 
sign one corner of the room for a barn. At 
a given signal call upon the animals to go to 
the barn, at which all the children will crawl 
rapidly along the floor to the barn, each mak- 
ing the noise of the animal they are to 
imitate. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; observation; imagina- 
tive activity. 

88 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR OBSERVATION 

Teacher calls upon a child to tell all the 
different articles of one color he can see in 
the room. Should the desired color be blue, 
the child should be told to look around the 
room and name every article that he can see 
of that color. 

If the child has not learned to know color 
by name, the teacher should hand him a 
bright blue block or a bright blue ball and 
tell him to name all of like color that he can 
see in the room. 

Should the child be unable to speak and 
yet have his color sense developed, the teach- 
er should hand him a pointer and have him 
point out the different articles of d<esired 
color. 

OBJECT 

Observation; color sense; independent 
thought. 



89 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"JACK AND JILL" 

Have the children seated. Choose two 
children to represent Jack and Jill. They 
should have a small tin pail to carry between 
them. 

Teach the following words, having the 
children in class clap rhythmically while re- 
peating them : 

"Jack and Jill went up the hill, 
To fetch a pail of water; 
Jack fell down and broke his crown, 
And Jill came tumbling after." 

"Up Jack got and said to Jill 
As in his arms he caught her; 
If you're not hurt, brush off the dirt, 
And then we'll fetch the water." 

During the first verse Jack and Jill walk 
slowly as though climbing a hill. On the 
third line they fall to the ground; Jack holds 
his head as though hurt. 

On the second verse Jack regains his feet„ 
helps Jill to rise, at the same time brushing 
the dirt from her dress. They pick up the 
fallen pail, and trot merrily off. 
OBJECT 

Imaginative activity; increase vocabulary. 

90 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



EXERCISE IN FORM 

Material : Blocks of one color. 

Teacher draws a chalk square on the floor, 
having sides three feet in length. 

Give each child a block, and have them 
place their blocks on lines of square in turn. 
Teach children to put their blocks equal dis- 
tance apart to keep as far as possible the 
symmetry of the square. When the form 
is complete, point to things in the room that 
are square, and ask children if the shape is 
not like that which they have just completed. 

Place a chalk circle on the floor of similar 
size, and have children in turn place their 
blocks on lines. When finished teacher holds 
up ball or anything in the room that may be 
round, and asks if each shape is not the same. 

When children have become familiar with 
circle and square, other forms may be used 
in the same way. Do not use same color 
blocks on two consecutive forms. 

For example, triangle in red blocks ; square 
in blue blocks; oval in yellow blocks. 

OBJECT 

Color; form; attention; observation. 

9i 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROPE JUMPING 

A starting line fifteen feet from rope will 
be needed on both sides. 

Place children in single straight line, ac- 
cording to size, with leader standing on start- 
ing line. 

The rope must be held very steadily and 
raised not more than two inches each time 
the line renews jumping. 

At a given signal the leader will run and 
jump, afterward standing in position on 
starting line on opposite side of rope; the rest 
of the players will each run in turn and jump 
over rope, afterward taking their places be- 
hind leader. Be sure one child has entirely 
cleared the rope before the next child starts 
to run, thereby avoiding confusion. 

When all the players Have jumped, rope 
will be raised and signal be again given for 
leader to jump; exercise will continue as 
before. 

This is a simple exercise, but if not car- 
ried out in a systematic, orderly manner the 
desired result will be lost. 



92 




ROPE JUMPING 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




OBJECT 

To develop play spirit; discipline; natural 
effort; motor force. 

93 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE PICK UP 

MATERIAL 

Newspapers or magazines cut into long 
strips two inches in width ; waste basket. 

Have the children stand in a circle with 
two feet of space between each child. 

Place the basket in the center of the circle. 

Give each child several strips of paper. On 
command the children should tear their paper 
into small pieces and throw it inside the 
circle. When all of the paper is torn up, 
have the children stand in position waiting 
the second command. 

Teacher should then give the second com- 
mand for the children to pick up the paper 
from the floor, and place it in the waste bas- 
ket. When this command is obeyed the 
children should again stand in position. 

Children then quietly take their seats. 

To gain the desired results it is essential 
that the above commands should be given 
and carried out with' order and precision. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; co-ordination; discipline. 

94 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ODD MAN OUT 

MATERIAL 

Eleven bean bags. 

Place bean bags in a row on the floor 
about one foot of space between each. 

Draw a starting line parallel with bean 
bags at a distance of eighteen feet. 

Have twelve children stand on' starting 
line. At given signal they should run, each 
child picking up a bean bag and running back 
to starting line. The child not quick enough 
to get a bean bag is out. 

The game is repeated, one bean bag being 
removed each time, until only cne remains. 
The child getting the last bean bag wins the 
game. 

This game may be played with any num- 
ber of children, always having one less bean 
bag than players. 

If played out-of-doors, stones may be used 
instead of bean bags. 

OBJECT 

To develop play spirit; initiative. 

95 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROUNDERS 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball or bean bag. 

Form a circle, children standing about four 
feet distance from each other. The ball or 
bean bag is thrown from one child to the next 
all around the circle. Those failing to catch 
must sit in centre of circle until all but two 
players are standing; the last one up is the 
winner. 

The above game may also be played with 
bean bags. Use two, and start them at the 
same time in different parts of the circle. 
This form of rounders calls for greater at- 
tention than medicine ball rounders. 

OBJECT 

Training the hand and eye; play spirit; 
stimulate activity. 



9 6 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PLACES CHANGE— I 

Children should be seated in semi-circle on 
small chairs. 

Have perfect quiet in the schoolroom dur- 
ing this exercise, that children may concen- 
trate more readily. 

Teacher should speak slowly and distinctly 
while giving commands. 

Call upon A to change places with B, and 
B to take A's seat. 

Continue this exercise, calling upon chil- 
dren in different parts of the class to change 
places with each other. 

This exercise should not exceed ten min- 
utes duration. 



97 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PLACES CHANGE— II 

When the children have gained in concen- 
tration and memory sufficiently to master the 
above exercise, use the following more dif- 
ficult exercise. 

Call upon A to change places with B ; B to 
change places with C; and C to go to the 
seat vacated by A. 

The teacher should repeat command twice 
before allowing children to perform. 

The exercise should be continued in this 
way, calling upon children in turn. 

OBJECT 

Memory; command; concentration. 



9 8 






GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DISCIPLINE EXERCISE 

Have children seated quietly with arms 
folded. 

Teacher give commands in the following 
order: 

i. All stand. 

2. All clap hands. 

3. Mark time. 

Teacher should count "One, two/' "One, 
two," and clap her hands to give rhythm and 
precision to the hand clapping and march! 
step. 

4. Arms folded. 

5. Halt; one, two. 

6. All be seated, quietly, 

OBJECT 

Attention; motor control; discipline. 



99 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



LEAP FROG 

Line up the players according to height. 

Choose three strong boys for frogs, have 
them take their positions in a straight line, 
there should be eight feet of running space 
between each frog. 

On signal the leader should run and leap 
over the three frogs in turn ; he should then 
remain on the further side. Second player 
should now run and jump, afterward taking 
his place immediately behind the first player. 
The third player will then take his turn. 

The game continues in this way, each boy 
jumping in his turn. When the game is fin- 
ished children should all be lined up on the 
further side. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; stimulate activity. 



ioo 




A. ** 



w w 



LEAP FROG 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



X 



X 



X 



101 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG RACE 

MATERIAL 

Three blue bean bags, three red bean bags. 

Mark floor plainly, according to diagram. 

Place three red bean bags in one circle, and 
three blue bean bags in the other. 

Choose two players, have them stand on 
starting lines. At a given signal they should 
run and place their bean bags on crosses 
ma'rked for that purpose ; only one bean bag 
may be carried at a time. The player having 
all bean bags placed on the crosses and back 
on the starting line first, wins the race. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; voluntary activity. 



IQZ 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



o 

Red 


6 Feet 


O 

Blue 


« 


1 

<3 


K 


START 




START 





103 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"LITTLE BO-PEEP" 

Have the children seated in a semi-circle. 
Teach the following rhyme, saying the words 
slowly and distinctly that the children may 
more readily understand. 

"Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, 
She can't tell where to find them; 
Leave them alone, and they'll come home, 
Wagging their tails behind them." 

The children should clap their hands while 
repeating the above rhyme. 

OBJECT 

Memory; increase vocabulary. 



104 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK STRUCTURE 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red, blue, yellow and 
green blocks. 

Draw five chalk circles in front of class. 
In the middle circle teacher should build a 
simple structure of blocks. In the other four 
circles put one block of each color. The chil- 
dren should in turn place their blocks in cir- 
cle of corresponding color; and as each child 
places his block 'he will help to form the dif- 
ferent structures, imitating that made by the 
teacher in the centre. 

The structure made by teacher should not 
consist of more than six blocks. 

OBJECT 

Color; attention, 



105 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND CONCENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

Ball, spinning top, wooden block, bean 
bag. 

Lay the above . articles in a row on the 
table, call a child from class and give com- 
mands in the following order, speaking 
slowly and distinctly: 

Pick up top. 

Pick up ball. 

Put down top and pick up bean bag. 

Pick up block and top and put down the 
ball. 

Put down block and top and pick up the 
ball. 

Put down ball and pick up block and top. 

Put down block, bean bag and top, and go 
to your seat. 



IQ6 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE THROW 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red and blue bean bags. 

Have children form a circle with three 
feet distance between each child. Make a 
chalk circle in the centre about four feet in 
diameter. Give each child a bean bag, 
alternating red and blue. 

At given signal one child throws, endeav- 
oring to get his bean bag into chalk circle. 
Each child follows in order. 

When all the bean bags have been thrown, 
teacher should count those inside of chalk 
circle, separating the reds from blues. The 
color having the greater number in centre 
wins. 

OBJECT 

Accuracy of aim; color; natural effort. 



107 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CONCENTRATION AND MEMORY 

MATERIAL 

Bean bag, colored block, rubber ball. 

Have children seated in half-circle. 

Place bean bag, wooden block, and rubber 
ball in front of children. 

Call upon A to perform. Teacher should 
talk slowly and distinctly while giving com- 
mands. 

Tell A to give bean bag to B, block to C, 
and rubber ball to D. 

A should take the different articles and 
give them to the children whose names the 
teacher designates. 

Should the child become confused and be 
unable to concentrate sufficiently to success- 
fully distribute three articles, use only two, 
until memory and attention is strengthened. 

When child has become proficient with 
three, teacher should add one more, always 
taking care lest the exercise become too com- 
plex and create confusion in the mind of 
the child. 



108 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



RAINBOW CIRCLE 

MATERIAL 

A wooden circle, twelve inches in dia- 
meter and a half inch in thickness, painted 
in four colors, red, blue, yellow and green. 
It should be painted on both sides, one quar- 
ter of the circle for each color. 

Have the children seated in a half-circle. 

Teacher will spin the circle and call the 
name of a child; the child called upon should 
run and catch the circle before it stops spin- 
ning. He should then spin it and call the 
name of another child. 

The game continues in this way. 

Should a child be unable to talk the teacher 
should call a name for him. 

OBJECT 

Attention; initiative; stimulate activity. 



109 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FLAG DRILL 

MATERIAL 

One drum, twelve-inch flags. 

Line up children by twos, each carrying a 
flag. 

Having marched around the room several 
times children should march down centre, 
then turn off, one line to the right, one line 
to the left, marching toward the upper end 
of the room, and come to position in two 
parallel lines, with about eighteen feet dis- 
tance between. 

At the close of marching, drum music 
should cease, with teacher, flag in hand, in 
position before the class, ready to give fol- 
lowing commands for drill, at the same time 
demonstrating action. 

i. "Flags up; flags to the shoulder." (Re- 
peat three times.) 

"Flags straight out to the side; flags to the 
shoulder." (Repeat three times.) 



no 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"Flags straight out in front; flags to the 
shoulder." (Repeat three times.) 

"Flags straight down; flags to the 
shoulder." (Repeat three times.) 

2. "Take four steps (more or less accord- 
ing to distance) to the centre, and cross flags 
with your partner." Flags should be held at 
arm's length above the head and the sticks 
crossed as evenly as possible. 

"Back to position." (Repeat twice.) 

3. "Mark time and wave flags." (Move- 
ments should be rhythmic.) 

4. "Flags straight up; flags down to the 
ground; flags to the right; flags to the left." 
(Repeat four times.) 

This should be a free arm movement, with 
long swinging strokes. 

Drum music should then play for the clos- 
ing of ranks and the final march. 



OBJECT 

Motor training; discipline. 



ill 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"LITTLE MISS MUFFET" 

Children stand in a circle, a small space 
betwen each child. Have them clap their 
hands while repeating the following words 
slowly and distinctly: 

"Little Miss Muffet 

Sat on a tuffet, 

Eating curds and whey; 

There came a big spider, 

Which sat down beside her, 

And frightened Miss Muffet away." 

Choose two children, one to represent 
Miss Muffet, and one for the spider. Miss 
Muffet should sit on a low stool in the centre 
of the circle, and imitate the action of eat- 
ing during the first three lines of the rhyme. 
On the fourth line the child representing the 
spider should crawl into the circle on her 
hands and knees, come up behind Miss Muf- 
fet and sit down beside her. Immediately 
Miss Muffet jumps up in a fright upsets the 
little stool, and runs out of the circle. 

OBJECT 

Imaginative activity; idea association. 

112 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DRESSING EXERCISE 

Have children quietly seated. Place three 
chairs in front of class ; call upon three chil- 
dren to perform. 

Place the hat and coat belonging to each 
child upon the chairs. Have each child pick 
out the chair containing her own hat and 
coat. Children should then put them on and 
fasten them, the object being, to see who can 
first accomplish the task successfully. They 
should then take off the hat and coat, place 
them on the chairs, and return to their seats. 

Teacher should then have these coats and 
hats removed and three others put in their 
places, calling upon the children owning 
these clothes to repeat exercise. 

When the children have learned to put 
on hats and coats, teacher may add gloves, 
rubbers and other articles of wearing ap- 
parel. 

OBJECT 

To create the desire and ability to dress; 
concentration; useful activity. 



"3 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FORM BUILDING 

MATERIAL 

Blocks of one color. 

Line up players in single file. Mark floor 
according to diagram. Give each child a 
block. 

Leader stands on starting line, with play- 
ers in line behind. 

At a given signal the leader should run 
and place his block on one of the chalk cross- 
es after which he should run to the rear 
of line, and second player should follow in 
like manner. The exercise continues until 
all blocks have been placed and form is com- 
plete. 

Diagram may be varied by using triangle, 
oval, diamond, circle. 

The form must consist of equal number of 
crosses as there are children playing. 

OBJECT 

Form ; attention ; constructive activity. 



114 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



X 


X 


X X 


X 


X 


X 








X 


X 








X 


X 








X 


X 








X 


X 


X 


X X 

1 
1 


X 


X 






LEADER 








K 










X 










X 










X 










X 










X 







US 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DOUBLE LINE HOOP GAME 

MATERIAL 

Wooden hoop, three and a half feet in 
diameter; red and blue bean bags. 

Line up players in two straight lines, ac- 
cording to height. 

Give each player a bean bag, one side hold- 
ing red and the other side blue. 

Two of the players should hold hoop in a 
horizontal position in the middle of the two 
lines. 

The lines should stand opposite each other, 
with a distance of twenty feet between the 
leaders. 

Draw a chalk line on which each leader 
will stand, and from which each player in 
turn should throw his bag. 

Leader on the red side plays first; the ob- 
ject being to throw his bean bag through the 
hoop; he should then run to rear of line, and 
leader on blue side should throw his bean bag 
in like manner; after which he also should 
run to rear of line, and the second player 
on each side should perform. 

116 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



The game continues in this way until all 
bean bags have been played and leaders are 
once more on starting lines. 

Two score keepers will be needed; one to 
keep count of blue bean bags going through 
the hoop and one to keep count of red bean 
bags. 

The side having the greater, number of 
bean bags thrown through the hoop wins the 
game. 



X X X X X 

RED 


" —10 Feet- 1 J —10 Feet— § 

3 \_y s 


X X X X X 

BLUE 



OBJECT 

Train eye and hand; stimulate activity. 



117 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



OVER HEAD BEAN BAG 

MATERIAL 

Two bean bags, one red and one blue. 

Line up the players according to height 
in two straight lines eight feet of space be- 
tween lines. 

Make a chalk starting line on which leaders 
will stand. 

Give each leader a bean bag. 

On signal "Are you ready?" the players 
should all raise their arms above their heads. 
On the word "Go" the bean bag is passed 
over head, each player passing it to the play- 
er in his rear until it reaches the last one, 
who immediately runs to the front of the line, 
and starts the bean bag again by passing it 
back over his head. 

Thus the last player runs each time he re- 
ceives the bean bag to the front of the line, 
until finally the leader is back on starting 
line again. 

Above is a simplified form of "Arch-ball." 

OBJECT 

Competitive spirit; stimulate activity. 
118 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HIDE THE BLOCK 

Call six children out of class and have 
them cover their eyes. 

Teacher should take a bright colored block 
and hide it in a place where it will be found 
with little difficulty. 

Hold up a block, an exact duplicate of hid- 
den block, and tell the six children to go and 
find a block just like the one teacher is hold- 
ing. 

The children should scatter to different 
parts of the r,oom and hunt for the block; 
the one finding it should bring it back to 
teacher. 

Keep the duplicate block in view that the 
child may not forget the object for which he 
is searching. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; spirit of play; observation; 
independent thought. 



119 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ACTION SONG 

To be sung to the tune of "Here We Go 
Round the Mulberry Bush." 

Children join hands in a circle and skip 
around while singing: 

"Here we go round the mulberry bush, 
The mulberry bush; 
The mulberry bush ; 
Here we go round the mulberry bush. 
So early in the morning. 
(All stop skipping, and imitate cleaning 
teeth on following words.) 

This is the way we clean our teeth 
Clean our teeth ; clean our teeth ; 
This is the way we clean our teeth 
So early in the morning." 
(Repeat verses, changing action each time.) 
2. — This is the way we brush our hair. 
3.-— This is the way we wash our face. 
4. — This is the way we tie our shoes. 
5. — This is the way we clap our hands. 
6. — This is the way we run to school. 

OBJECT 

Observation; sense of rhythm; play spirit; 
active imagination. 

120 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



RING TOSS 

MATERIAL 

The ring toss board should be made ac- 
cording to the following measurements: 
Base two feet square; five posts, one at each 
corner, eight inches in height, the centre 
post ten inches in height; five rings, eight 
inches in diameter, made from firm rope. 

For beginners chalk a starting line six 
feet from the board; as the children improve 
the distance may be increased. 

Children should be seated on small chairs 
in a half-circle. 

Place the board in the front of class, mark 
the starting line. 

Teacher will call upon the players one at a 
time, have them stand on the chalk line and. 
throw rings in an effort to get them on the 
posts. 

Have one child pick up the scattered rings 
and return them to the players. 

OBJECT 

Visual training; motor control; voluntary 
action. 



121 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



OUTDOOR OBSERVATION 

While out walking with children use the 
following exercise to develop power of ob- 
servation. 

Teacher should designate one child to tell 
all he can see around him. 

Do not try to force his attention to ob- 
serve details of the landscape until he has 
thoroughly awakened to those things that 
are apparent to the eye with little thought 
on the part of the observer. 

The second child called upon will possibly 
imitate the first. Teacher should encour- 
age children to find those things which 
others have overlooked. 

Color sense may also be introduced in this 
exercise. The child may say, "I see a tree." 
Teacher may ask: "What color are the 
leaves?" The same question may be applied 
to the sky; a house; a field; etc. 

OBJECT 

Observation; natural effort; independent 
thought; color. 



122 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HEARING AND DIRECTION— I 

MATERIAL 

Clear sounding bell, cow bell, sleigh bell, 
tambourine. 

Children should be seated quietly. Call 
upon five boys to perform. Blindfold A and 
have him stand in the centre of the room. 
Give BCD and E one bell each and have 
them stand in different corners of the room. 

Teacher should motion to B to ring his 
cow bell. Ask A what he hears. He should 
answer "I hear the cow bell ringing. ,, Teach- 
er will then ask "From what direction does 
the sound come?" A should then point in 
the direction of B and say "The sound came 
from that direction." 

The instruments of ■ B C D and E should 
be sounded in turn. A being questioned each 
time as to the nature of the sound and the 
direction from which it came. 

OBJECT 

^ Hearing; sense of direction; concentra- 
tion; independent thought. 



123 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK AND BASKET GAME 

MATERIAL 

Eight blocks, four red and four blue; one 
basket. 

Chalk floor plainly according to diagram. 

Place four red blocks on crosses on one 
side, and four blue blocks on crosses on the 
other side. 

Choose two players to stand on starting 
lines, back to back. 

At given signal players run, and picking 
up one block at a time, return to centre 
and place it in the basket. The child hav- 
ing all blocks in the basket and on the start- 
ing line first wins the game. 

Have each couple after they h"ave played, 
set out the blocks ready for the next players. 

This game is simplified by using bean bags 
instead of blocks. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; muscular control; volun- 
tary action. 



124 




BLOCK AND BASKET GAME 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 











X 


i 




X 


X 

J 

X 








io Feet 


X 
X 


10 Feet 


Basket 










X 






X 




J 


i 


B 







125 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CRAWLING RACE 

Draw two parallel lines with twenty feet 
of space between. 

Players line up on the starting line in a 
crawling position on their hands and knees. 
Have three feet of space between each child. 

On a given signal children should crawl 
from one line to the next, the child arriv- 
ing there first winning the race. 

As the players progress they may crawl 
from starting line to the second line, and 
then back to the starting line again, the play- 
er arriving there first winning the game. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; attention; stimulate activ- 
ity 



126 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PHYSICAL QUESTIONS 

Children should stand in a semi-circle. Ask 
the following questions, having the children 
point to the different parts of the body as 
they are mentioned. 



"Where are your eyes?" 



2. "Why do we have eyes?" 

3. "Where is your nose?" 

4. "Of what use is your nose?" 

5. "Where is your mouth?" 

6. "Of what use is your mouth?" 

7. "Where are your ears?" 

8. "Why do we need ears?" 

9. "Where are your hands?" 

10. "Of what use are your hands?" 

11. "Where are your feet?" 

12. "Of what use are your feet?" 

When the children fail to give correct re- 
plies, teacher should tell them the answer in 
brief concrete form. 

OBJECT 

Association of ideas; memory; independ- 
ent thought. 



127 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK RACE 

MATERIAL 

Five red, five blue and five yellow wooden 
blocks. 

Mark floor according to diagrahi. 

Place five blocks of each color called for 
in circles. 

Call upon three players; have them stand 
on the starting lines. 

On given signal they should run and place 
their blocks upright on crosses marked for 
that purpose, only one block may be car- 
ried at a time. 

The player having his five blocks placed 
on crosses and back in position on starting 
line first, wins the race. 

Continue game in this way calling upon 
three other players to perform. 

Before taking their seats players should 
replace the blocks in circles, in readiness for 
the next players. 

OBJECT 

Co-ordination; motor control; competitive 
spirit; natural effort. 

128 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



o 




o 




o 


Red 




Yellow 




Blue 


X 




X 




X 


X 




X 




X 


X 




X 




X 


X 




X 




X 


X 




X 




X 





6 Feet 





6 Feet 






129 



games for children 



"I SAW A LITTLE MAN" 

Teach the following verse, saying the 
words slowly and distinctly, that the chil- 
dren may more readily understand. 

"Once I saw a little man, 

And he had a little gun, 

And his bullets were made of lead, lead, 

lead. 
He went to the brook, 
And saw a little duck, 
And shot it right through the head, head, 

head. ,, 

Have the children clap loudly and de- 
cisively three times on the words "lead, lead, 
lead" and also clap three times on the words 
"head, head, head." 

OBJECT 

Memory; increase vocabulary; imagina- 
tive thought. 



130 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FORM MARCHING 

Line up children in single file, according 
to height. 

Teacher should chalk a square on the floor 
twelve feet on each side. Have children 
take short, quick, marching steps, keeping 
directly on the lines of square. 

When they have marched on the square 
twice,- teacher should space them so that 
the last child and the leader are the same 
distance apart as the rest of the children. 
Have a child stand directly on each corner 
of square. Draw the children's attention to 
the fact that they have formed a shape much 
like the picture or book, or anything in the 
room that may be square. 

For variation the teacher should draw a 
circle, oval, triangle, etc., and in this manner 
the children will become more familiar with 
form. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; form; observation. 



I3i 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEDICINE BALL BOWLING 

MATERIAL 

Two medicine balls and thirty; wooden 
blocks, fifteen red and fifteen blue. 

Chalk the floor according to diagram. 

Place fifteen wooden blocks on end in each 
circle; blue blocks in one circle, and red 
blocks in the other. 

Have one child at each circle to replace 
the fallen blocks and two children to return 
the balls to players. 

Call upon two players ; have them stand on 
the lines; give them each a ball. 

The ball should be bowled along the 
ground, in an endeavor to knock down as 
many of the blocks as possible at one strike. 

Only one throw of the ball is allowed to 
each player. When two players have 
bowled, they should return to their seats and 
two others should be called upon to play. 

Should a player knock down all of the 
blocks in one strike he is entitled to another 
turn. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; co-ordination.; 



132 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




133 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



VISUALIZATION AND COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Four wooden blocks, one red, one yellow, 
one green, one blue. 

Place blocks in a row on the table; call 
a child and ask him to look carefully at the 
blocks, noticing the color and the order in 
which they are laid; blindfold him and re- 
move the blue block. Unbind his eyes and 
ask him to name the color of the missing 
block. 

Repeat exercise in this way calling upon 
each child in turn. 

Before this exercise is attempted, it is 
necessary the child's color sense should be 
developed. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; sight training; independent 
thought. 



134 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DROP THE BEAN BAG 

Form a circle, choosing one child for the 
odd player. 

The circle players should clasp hands and 
stand still; the odd player should run around 
the outside of the circle, carrying a bean bag, 
and drop it behind the one whom she chooses 
to chase her. The player behind whom the 
bag was dropped will immediately pick it up 
and run after the odd player, endeavoring to 
tag her before she can get back to the vacant 
place in the circle. 

The player, reaching the vacant place first 
remains there, the one left out taking the 
bean bag for repetition of the game. 

Note. — This is a variation of "Drop the 
Handkerchief." 

OBJECT 

Play spirit; attention; stimulate activity. 



135 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MARCHING 

Line up children in single file, according 
to size. 

i. All stand in position and mark time. 

2. March slowly with heads erect and 
arms straight down at sides. 

3. Change from slow marching to quick 
marching. 

4. Hands on hips and march. 

5. All clap hands in time to march step. 

6. Place one hand on each shoulder of the 
child in front and march (elbows straight). 

7. Hands on heads, elbows out, and 
march. 

8. Heels raised march on toes without 
noise. 

9. Arms double; all run. 



136 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



10. Form two lines and mark time. 
ii. Forward, march. 

The above command, "Form two lines," 
is carried out by the second child stepping 
forward and taking the leader's hand; the 
fourth boy taking the third boy's hand, and 
so on along the line. The teacher should 
clap her hands in time to the marching, and 
give commands in a forceful manner; also 
count "one, two," "one, two." Do not use 
the terms left and right. 

The command to stop should be "Halt! 
One ! Two !" the word "halt" alone being too 
brief. 

OBJECT 

Attention; co-ordination; muscular con- 
trol. 



137 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BASEBALL PICK UP 

MATERIAL 

Six colored baseballs, shallow box. 

Have the children seated quietly. 

Teacher should throw the baseballs to the 
floor, letting them roll where they will. 

Call upon a child; tell her to pick up one 
ball, put it in the box, and return to her seat. 

Continue exercise in this way, calling up- 
on six children in turn to pick tip the six 
fallen balls. 

Should a child pick up more than one ball, 
do not correct her, or have her repeat the ex- 
ercise, she will learn more readily from prac- 
tise and observation of others. 

OBJECT 

Command; attention; natural effort. 



138 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CENTER BALL CATCH 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Children form a circle, three feet distance 
between each player, odd player in the cen- 
tre holding ball. 

On signal the game starts, centre player 
throws ball to one of the circle players who, 
catching it, throws it immediately back to 
centre player. 

The ball is played in this manner right, 
around the circle, each child receiving the 
ball and throwing it back to centre player. 

Should a player fail to catch the ball, he 
must sit on the floor in exactly the same 
place he is standing, and remain there until 
finish' of game. 

Should the centre player fail to catch, he 
must forfeit his position to the player who 
threw the ball and take that player's place 
in the circle. 

OBJECT 

Train eye and hand ; stimulate activity. 



139 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"LITTLE DROPS OF WATER" 

Teach the following poem saying each 
word slowly and distinctly: 

"Little drops of water, 
Little grains of sand, 
Make the mighty ocean, 
And the pleasant land. 

Little deeds of kindness, 
Little words of love; 
Make our earth so happy, 
Like the heaven above/' 

There are phrases in the above poem, the 
meaning of which may be unfamiliar to the 
child; the teacher should explain briefly and 
simply, the meaning of these, to prevent men- 
tal confusion. 

OBJECT 

Memory; increase vocabulary; stimulate 
thought. 



140 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEMORY AND COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Three blocks, red, blue and yellow. 

Children sit in semi-circle, on kindergarten 
chairs. 

Call upon A to perform. 

Tell A to give red block to B, blue block 
to C, and yellow block to D. 

Teacher should talk slowly and distinctly 
while giving this command, and have per- 
fect quiet in the room that A may concen- 
trate his mind more readily. 

When the command is given A should 
take each block in turn and give it to the 
child designated by the teacher. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; memory; color; natural 
effort. 



141 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE BLOCK BUILDING 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red, blue, yellow, green, 
purple, and orange blocks. 

Teacher should draw six circles upon the 
floor, placing a block of different color 
lengthwise in each one. 

Children should sit in half-circle. Give 
each child a block. 

Call upon first child to place his block in 
circle of corresponding color. The block 
must be placed crosswise on the block al- 
ready there. 

As each child plays, the structures of dif- 
ferent colored blocks are made, each block 
being placed crosswise. 

When the exercise is finished there are 
six structures of blocks, each of a different 
color. 

Should a child upset the structure while 
placing hi9 block he must rebuild it before 
returning to his seat. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; color sense; constructive 
activity; poise. 

142 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG PASS 

MATERIAL 

Two bean bags, one red, one blue. 

Line up players, according to height, in 
two straight lines facing each other, with a 
distance of ten feet between. 

Leader of one line holds a red bean bag, 
and leader of the other line holds a blue bean 
bag. 

At a given signal leader will pass his bean 
bag to next player; each player will pass the 
bean bag on until it reaches end player, who 
immediately runs to head of line; passing 
will continue, each end player running to the 
head of line as he receives bean bag. 

The side having its leader back to head 
of line first wins the game. 

Players must run back of lines, not inside. 

This game may also be played with wood- 
en blocks or medicine balls. 

OBJECT 

Competitive play; muscular control; vol- 
untary action. 



H3 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HOPPING GAME 

MATERIAL 

Five red bean bags. 

Mark the floor according to diagram. 

Place a bean bag on each cross. Have 
a child stand on the starting line and, with 
his arms folded across his chest, hop on one 
foot over each bean bag, until he reaches 
the end. He should then rest for a few 
seconds by lowering his foot to the ground, 
after which 'he should hop back to the start- 
ing line. 

As the children progress in this exercise 
they may hop over the five bea'n bags and 
back to the starting line without stopping 
to rest. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; co-ordination; poise. 




GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HEARING GAME 

MATERIAL 

Tambourine, clear-sounding bell. 

Have class quietly seated; teacher, should 
designate three children to take part in exer- 
cise. 

Blindfold A, give B the tambourine and C 
the clear-sounding bell. Have B and C go to 
opposite corners of the room and ring their 
instruments. 

Teacher should lead A to centre of room 
and tell him to find out who has the bell; 
A, guided by his sense of hearing, will go to 
C, who is ringing the bell. 

Continue exercise in this way, calling up- 
on different children to perform. 

OBJECT 

Sense of hearing; concentration; volun- 
tary action. 



145 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BALL LEADER 

Make a chalk line on which children stand 
in a straight row. Choose one child for the 
leader, give him the ball, and have him 
stand in front of the line at a distance of ten 
feet (more or less, according to the ability 
of the players). 

The leader should throw the ball to the 
first player, who will at once throw it back to 
leader. The leader then throws it to the 
second player and the game continues in 
this way, each child playing in turn. 

Should the leader fail to catch the ball, he 
must forfeit his position as leader to the 
player who threw the ball, and take that 
player's place in the line. 

The leaders keep changing in this way, 
and the game is made more interesting. 

OBJECT 

Attention ; play spirit ; natural effort. 



146 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WALKING EXERCISE— II 

Teacher should chalk a straight line along 
the floor. 

i. Have child place feet together and with 
hands held firmly on hips, take short jump- 
ing steps all along the line. 

2. Place hands firmly on hips and hop on 
one foot along the line. 

3. Have the child hold a wooden wand 
three feet in length, horizontally in the nape 
of the neck, with one end in each hand. 
Walk the line, taking short steps and having 
the heel and toe placed on the line at each 
step. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; co-ordination. 



147 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



TRI-COLOR GAME 



MATERIAL 



Equal number of red, blue and yellow 
blocks. 

Mark floor according to diagram; place 
one block in each circle of color called for. 

Line up children in order, one behind the 
other, with leader on starting line. 

Give each child one block; avoid giving 
two blocks of same color to children stand- 
ing together. 

At given signal A should run and place 
his block in circle having a like color. 

After having placed block he should not 
return to line a, but should go back to line 
b and therefore avoid distracting t attention 
of B, who is now running. When B has 
placed his block, he should take his place 
immediately behind A, and other players 
will follow in order. 

When game is finished, players will be 
lined up on line b. If game is to be re- 
peated players must go back to line a. 
No effort should be put forth by the teach- 

148 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



er to gain speed in this game; its object be- 
ing to develop color sense and attention. 





o 






Blue 




o 




o 


Red 




Yellow 


a START 




b FINISH 


X 


X 


X 




M 


M 




X 


X 




X 


M 




M 


X 




X 



OBJECT 

CoIok sense; play spirit; concentration. 
149 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"THE ROBUST 

Have class seated in a semi-circle on kin- 
dergarten chairs. 

"The north wind doth blow, 

And we shall have snow; 

And what will poor robin do then, 

Poor thing? 

He'll sit in a barn, 

And keep himself warm; 

And hide his head under his wing, 

Poor thing!" 

Teacher should say the words slowly and 
enunciate carefully when teaching the rhyme 
so that the children may more readily un- 
derstand. 

OBJECT 

Increase vocabulary; suggestive thought. 



150 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



STUDY OF THE BODY 

Have children stand on straight chalk 
line. They should place their hands on dif- 
ferent parts of the body in obedience to com- 
mands from teacher, as follows: 

i. "Attention; heels together; arms 
down." 

2. "Hands on head." 

3. "Hands on shoulders." 

4. "Hands on the back of neck." 

5. "Hands on your chest." 

6. "Hands on your hips." 

7. "Hands on your back." 

8. "Hands on your stomach." 

9. "Hands on your knees." 

10. "All touch your feet." 

11. "All raise one arm." 

12. "All raise one leg from the ground." 

13. "Attention; heels together; arms 
down." 



The above commands should be given 
slowly, teacher at the same time carrying 
out the action for children to imitate. 



ISI 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



LEAP FROG RACE, 

Chalk the floor according to diagram. 
Line up players in two straight lines with 
leaders on the starting lines. 

Choose six strong boys fon frogs. Have 
them take their positions each on a cross. 

At a given signal the leaders run, and leap 
over the three frogs in turn, afterward tak- 
ing their place on the further line. Second 
player may not run until the leader is over 
the further line. 

The game continues in this way until all 
of the players have run. 

The side having all players over the fur- 
ther, line first wins the race. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; self-control; play spirit. 



152 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FINISH 


io Feet 


FINISH 


M 




H 


M 


1 

oo 


>i 


K 




X 


START 


io Feet 


STAKT 



153 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PAPER CUTTING— II 

i. Teacher should take ten-inch squares 
of paper and draw parallel lines in colored 
pencil right across paper. 

Have children cut directly on colored lines. 

2. Teacher should take ten-inch squares 
of paper and draw curved parallel lines in 
colored pencil right across paper. 

Have children cut directly on curved lines. 

3. Teacher should make very simple geo- 
metrical forms on drawing paper. Let the 
paper be about ten by four inches in size; 
three forms would be sufficient on each piece 
of paper; for pxample, square, oval and tri- 
angle. 

4. When a child has successfully passed 
the preceding exercises in paper cutting, he 
will be ready to take up very simple picture 
cutting. Choose pictures that are clear in 
outline and have very little detail. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; co-ordination; useful ac- 
tivity. 



155 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PAPER CUTTING— I 

MATERIAL 

Small scissors and paper. 

Give each child a pair of scissors. 

Teacher should cut paper into oblong 
pieces and give each child one piece. 

Instruct the children as to correct manner 
of holding scissors. 

Do not be particular as to way in which pa- 
per is cut; aim to have child hold scissors 
correctly in first cutting exercise. Colored 
paper is to be preferred in this exercise. 

Have the children seated on small chairs 
around a kindergarten table; if possible have 
three feet of space between each child, they 
will then concentrate more readily than 
when seated close together. 

OBJECT 

Co-ordinate hand and brain; concentra- 
tion ; voluntary effort. 



154 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PAPER FOLDING 

Teacher should give one eighth-inch 
square of paper to each child. 

Have children stand around a table that 
all may be able to see what the teacher is 
doing. 

Teacher should take one square of paper 
and fold it in half; have each child fold his 
square of paper in exactly the same way. 
Then teacher should fold the paper diagonal- 
ly and have children do likewise with their 
paper. 

Two folds will be quite sufficient to start 
this exercise. As children improve more 
folds may be attempted. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; co-ordination; useful ac- 
tivity. 



156 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEMORY TEST 

The children should be quietly seated. 
Call upon three children and have them 
stand in front of the class. 

Name the first child "red," the second child 
"blue" and the third child "yellow." 

Before starting the game, have each child 
repeat the color that she represents. 

Teacher should call upon a child in the 
class to change places with "blue"; the child 
called upon should leave her seat, pick out 
"blue" and change places with her, the other 
taking her seat in class. 

Should the child make an error, she must 
return to her seat; another player is then 
called upon. 

As the players progress, the number of 
players representing colors may be increased. 

For variety, the names of fruits, flowers, 
birds or animals may be used, providing the 
children are quite familiar with the names 
and their objects. 

OBJECT 

Memory; concentration; observation. 



157 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




159 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



SINGLE LINE BLOCK BUILDING 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red and blue blocks. 

Mark floor according to diagram. 

Line up children in one straight line; lead- 
er on starting line. 

Give each child a block, alternating red 
and blue. 

At a given signal the leader should run 
and place his block lengthwise on the cross; 
he should then run to rear of line, and second 
player should run and place his block cross- 
wise on leader's block; likewise, he should 
go to rear of line, and third player should 
run. The exercise continues, each player 
placing his block crosswise on the one plated 
before, thereby building a structure of alter- 
nate red and blue blocks. Should a child 
upset the structure while placing his block, 
he must rebuild before taking his place at 
rear of line. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; attention; balance. 



158 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HOOP GAME 

MATERIAL 

Light wooden hoop, three and a half feet 
in diameter. Equal number of red and blue 
bean bags. 

Place players in two straight lines accord- 
ing to height. 

Give each player a bean bag, one line hav- 
ing red bean bags and one line blue. 

Two of the larger players should hold 
hoop in a horizontal position in the centre 
of the two lines at a distance of seven feet 
from each leader, making a distance of four- 
teen feet between the leaders. 

Draw two chalk lines on which leaders 
stand. 

At a given signal leaders should throw 
their bean bags endeavoring to get chem 
through the hoop. After having played 
they should run to rear of line and second 
players will take their turn. 

The game continues until all the bean 
Bags have been thrown, and leaders are once 
more on starting lines. 

160 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



Two score keepers will be needed, one for 
blues and one for reds, to count how many- 
bean bags are thrown through the hoop. 

The side having the greater number of 
bean bags thrown through the hoop, wins 
the game. 



X X X X X X 


1 f A 1 

3 7 Feet I 1 7 Feet 3 
w V / w 


X X X X X X 



OBJECT 

Accuracy of aim; competitive spirit. 



161 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



THREE-LEGGED RACE 

Mark two parallel lines on the ground, 
with twenty feet of space between. 

Line up an even number of players on one 
of the lines. 

Each player will have a partner with 
;whom he will run. 

Partners should be as evenly matched 
as possible with regard to size and weight. 

The right ankle of one player should be 
securely fastened to the left ankle of his 
partner. 

The signal to run being given, each play- 
er should grasp his partner's arm, and run 
with as much speed as possible to the oppo- 
site line ; the couple reaching there first wins 
the race. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; self-control; competitive 
spirit. 



162 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WALKING BACKWARD 

Mark six parallel lines on the floor, four 
feet of space between. 

Call upon six children. Have them fold 
their arms across the chest and each child 
stand on the end of a line. 

At a given signal, they should all walk 
backward, the child reaching the end of the 
line first, being the one to win the race. 

One step off the line is not counted, but 
two steps off disqualifies the player. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; sense of direction; atten- 
tion. 



163 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR STUDY 

MATERIAL 

A number of four-inch squares, of bright 
colored cloth. 

Mix the different colors together and place 
them on a table in front of the class. 

Give each child one piece of cloth ; do not 
give the same color to children sitting next 
to each other. 

Teacher should call upon the first child to 
choose a piece of cloth from the table, to 
match the piece he has in his hand. 

When he has the desired piece he should 
hold up the two pieces of cloth, one in each 
hand, for the inspection of the class. Teach- 
er may ask the question, "Are John's colors 
right?" The class may answer "Yes" or 
"No," as the case may be. 

Next child will perform in the same way, 
and the exercise will continue until all the 
children have matched their colors. 

OBJECT 

Attention; discriminative power; inde- 
pendent thought. 



164 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"THE CLOCK" 

Teach the following words accompanied 
by action. 

Have the children stand in semi-circle. 

On the first line all point in the direction 
of clock; on the third and fourth line 
children extend their hands. On the first 
line of second verse all bow; on second line 
all point to faces ; and on last two lines clap 
hands. 

"There's a neat little clock, 
In the schoolroom it stands, 
And it points to the time 
With its two little hands. 

And may we, like the clock, 
Keep a face clean and bright, 
With hands ever ready 
To do what is right." 

OBJECT 

Imaginative activity; memory; increase 
vocabulary. 



165 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WATER CARRYING 

Have the children seated in a half-circle. 

Chalk a straight line on the floor in front 
of the class. Call upon a child. He should 
place his left hand upon his hip, and in his 
right hand carry a cup full of water. Have 
the child walk, keeping heel and toe on the 
line at each step, endeavoring to hold the cup 
in a steady position that the water may not 
be spilled. 

Continue exercise in this way, calling up- 
on children in turn to perform. 

This exercise may be made into a com- 
petitive game, by drawing three parallel 
lines, and having three children walk in the 
above manner, the player successfully carry- 
ing the water and reaching the end of the 
line first being the one to win. 

OBJECT 

Poise; motor control; concentration; 



voluntary effort. 



166 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



STONE PICTURES 

Have the children each gather a small 
pile of stones. Let them be seated in a half- 
circle on the ground. 

Teacher should take a pointed stick and 
draw a triangle in the soft earth in front of 
each child : the children will then place their 
stones one at a time, closely together on 
the lines, forming a triangle of stones. Chil- 
dren may then make a square, oval, circle, 
or any simple form the teacher thinks suit- 
able. 

Note. — If this game is played with chil- 
dren who are learning their letters and num- 
bers, teacher should draw different num- 
bers and letters, and let them fill in the lines 
with stones. 

OBJECT 

Handwork; attention; constructive ac- 
tivity. 



167 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



INDIAN FILE TARGET GAME 

A board painted bright red, about twelve 
inches square, will be needed for the target; 
nail it securely to the post four feet from 
the ground, or according to height of play- 
ers. 

Line up players in single file twelve feet 
from target; give them each a bean bag. 

On signal, first player should throw his 
bean bag, endeavoring to hit target; after 
having played, he should run to rear of line, 
and next player should take his turn. The 
game continues in this way until all players 
have thrown their bean bags, and leader is 
on starting line. 

OBJECT 

Accuracy of aim; attention; natural ac- 
tivity. 



168 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR PICK-UP 



MATERIAL 



Paper of different colors in bright shades ; 
small boxes. 

Teacher should cut paper into pieces 
and scatter them within a small space on the 
floor. Choose twelve children, and give each 
one a piece of paper and a box. Have 
them pick up pieces of paper on the floor 
corresponding to the color of the piece given 
them. When all the pieces are picked up 
each child should show his box. The one 
having gathered the most pieces of correct 
color wins the game. 

Note. — Do not attempt this exercise un- 
til training in color sense development has 
been given the child. 

OBJECT 

Useful activity; application; concentration. 



169 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WHAT DO YOU HEAR? 

Have the children quiet in class. Call 
upon one child, blindfold him, and have him 
stand in front of the class. 

Have an assistant make the different 
sounds at one end of the room, while the 
teacher questions the child. 

The assistant should sing a short snatch 
of a song; teacher asks the question "What 
do you hear?" the child answers "I hear 
Miss L. singing" ; the assistant should then 
whistle; teacher repeats the question, and 
tWe child should answer "I hear Miss L. 
whistling." The assistant should talk very 
loudly, afterward very softly, then imitate 
crying, then laughing. Each time the ques- 
tion and answer should be as above, accord- 
ing to the sound heard by the child. 

The exercise should be continued in this 
way, calling upon the different children to 
perform in their turn. 

OBJECT 

Attention; discrimination of sound; inde- 
pendent thought. 



170 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FOOT AND ARM EXERCISE 

Make a single chalk line upon the floor; 
line up children according to height; have 
them stand on the line with heels together, 
heads erect, and arms straight down. 

Teacher should give the command, "Hands 
on hips." 

Have children raise one foot from the 
ground, and hold it thus for five seconds; 
lower it slowly, and raise the other foot, 
also holding that one for five seconds. (Re- 
peat four times.) 

Give command for one arm to be raised 
straight up, hold it thus for five seconds; 
lower it slowly; repeat in the same manner 
with the other arm. (Repeat four times.) 

Do not use the expression "right" and 
"left" when teaching defective children: 
teacher should say, "Lift the arm nearest the 
window," or "Lift the foot nearest the door," 
as the case may be. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; attention; voluntary effort. 



171 



GAMES FOR C HILDREN 

COMPETITIVE TRIPLE COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Red, blue, and yellow wooden blocks. 

Chalk floor according to diagram. Place 
one colored block in each circle, block color 
matching circle color. 

Place children in two lines, according to 
size; leaders on starting lines. Give each 
child a block. 

At a given signal leader of each line should 
run and place his block in -circle of corres- 
ponding color; he should then run to .rear of 
his line, and second player will take his turn, 
also running to rear of line when he has 
played. The game continues in this way un- 
til all blocks have been placed, and leaders 
are on the starting lines. 

Blocks must be placed in an upright posi- 
tion. 

The side having its blocks in correct circles 
and its leader on starting line first wins the 
game. 

Note. — This game is only suitable for chil- 
dren whose color sense is developed, and for 



172 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



those who have had some training in com- 
petitive games. 



o 

Yellow 




o 

Yellow 


o o 

Red Blue 




o o 

Red Blue 


1 

•5 






LEADEE 


6 Feet 


LEADER 


X 
X 

x 

X 
X 


X 

X 

X 

X 
X 



OBJECT 

Natural activity; attention; discriminative 
power. 

173 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ACTION CIRCLE GAME 

Children form a circle, hands on hips, feet 
placed together. Teach children the follow- 
ing words: 

See my hands go clap, clap, clap. 
See my feet go stamp, stamp, stamp, 
Now my head nods one, two, three, 
So skip merrily, merrily, we. 
Ha! Ha! Ha! you and me. 
So skip merrily merrily, we. 

On the words "Clap, clap, clap," children 
clap hands three times; on the words 
"Stamp, stamp, stamp," stamp the feet three 
times ; on the words "One, two, three," nod 
the head three times; for the rest of the 
words children take hands and skip around 
until last "merrily we." 

OBJECT 

Sense of rhythm; play spirit; muscular 
control; imaginative activity. 



174 




mmmmm 



BALL THROW 



GAMES FO.R CHILDREN 



BALL THROW 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball, fourteen-foot rope. 

Tie the rope between two posts or trees 
five feet from the ground, or according to 
height of players. 

Divide players into two lines of equal num- 
ber. Players line up on each side of the 
rope, facing each other, a distance of twelve 
feet between lines. 

The game is started by the teacher, who 
throws ball to a player on one side, who in 
turn throws it over the rope to players on 
the other side. The game continues in this 
way, the ball being thrown from one side to 
the other. The ball must not be thrown to 
any particular player; it should be thrown 
from one group to the other, those catching 
it who can. 

Should a player fail to catch the ball, it 
counts one point against his side. The first 
side having ten failures gives the opposite 
side the game. 

This is a simplified form of "Volley Ball." 



175 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG RELAY 

MATERIAL 

Bean bags, shallow box. 

Place players, according to size, in two 
lines of equal number. 

Mark floor according to diagram. 

If a shallow box or basket is not at hand, 
a chalk circle will answer the purpose. 

Players in position, with leaders on start- 
ing lines. 

Give each player a bean bag, those on one 
side having red bean bags, those on the other 
side blue. 

At a given signal the leader of each side 
should run and drop his bean bag into the 
basket (it must not be thrown into the bas- 
ket), he should then take his place at end of 
line, and as he runs over starting line second 
player should run. 

Each player should run in turn until lead- 
ers are once more on starting lines. The 
side having played off all their bean bags, 
and having their leader back to starting line 
first, wins the game. 



176 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




OBJECT 

Competitive spirit; self-control; natural 
activity. 

177 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



CIRCLE TOSS 

MATERIAL 

Five cardboard circles, nine inches in dia- 
meter, each circle bright red on one side and 
blue on reverse. 

Children may choose the color they prefer. 
Those choosing red stand on one side; those 
choosing blue on the other. 

Teacher should throw cardboard circles in- 
to the air one at a time. The majority falling 
to the ground, with the blue side up, cause 
the blues to win; the majority falling with 
red side up cause reds to win. 

Throwing the circles into the air one at 
a time holds the children's interest more read- 
ily, and is less likely to cause confusion in 
their minds than throwing all together. 

OBJECT 

Color sense; play spirit; independent 
thought. 



i 7 8 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WALKING CURVED LINE 

Chalk a long curved line on the floor. 

Call upon six children. Have each one 
carry a wand, three feet in length, held 
horizontally in the nape of neck. 

Children should walk in this manner one 
behind the other, until they reach the end 
of the chalk line. They should then turn, 
and the last child becomes leader as the chil- 
dren walk back on the line. 

Do not let the children walk close enough 
to touch each other. 

Short steps should be taken and the foot 
placed heel and toe on the line at each step. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; attention; voluntary effort. 



179 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



TARGET GAME 

MATERIAL 

Red and blue bean bags. Two boards 
twelve inches square, painted bright red, for 
targets ; nail them securely to a post six feet 
from ground. There should be ten feet of 
space between the posts. 

Make two starting lines opposite targets, 
at twelve feet distance. 

Place players in two lines of equal num- 
bers, leaders on starting line. Give each 
player a bean bag, red bags for one side, and 
blue for the other side. 

At a given signal the leaders on both sides 
should throw their bean bags, endeavoring to 
hit target. After having thrown they should 
each run to the rear of their line, and game 
will be repeated, each player throwing his 
bean bag at the target and then running to 
the end of the line. The side having the 
greater number of bean bags hit the target 
wins the game. 

OBJECT 
Accuracy of aim ; attention ; self-control. 



1 80 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR THROW 



MATERIAL 



Six bean bags; green, yellow, red, blue, 
orange and purple. 

Children sit in semi-circle on small chairs. 

Teacher should throw one bag each to 
children in different parts of class. 

Call upon Red to throw his bean bag to 
teacher; call upon Yellow to throw his bag; 
call upon Green, and so continue until all 
bean bags have been returned in their right 
order. 

Choose six other children and continue 
exercise. 

OBJECT 

Sense of color; attention. 



181 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PICK UP STICKS 

This game is suitable only in woods or 
groves where there may be small, dry sticks. 
Have children search for sticks. 

When sticks are gathered, children should 
sit on the ground in a semi-circle, each child 
having a dozen or more sticks with which to 
work. 

Teacher should sit in front of class and 
using sticks somewhat larger than the chil- 
dren, make a simple pattern for them to copy. 

Teacher should make the pattern slowly 
and let children work with her. As one stick 
is laid by the teacher, one stick may be laid 
by the children. Let the patterns be very 
simple to start with, square, triangle, ob- 
long, alphabetic letters such as A, T, E, V, 
H, etc. 

When children have learned to put their 
sticks together in following a* simple pattern, 
more difficult patterns may be used. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; observation; constructive 
activity. 

182 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



OVER HEAD MEDICINE BALL 

Material: Two medicine balls. 

Line up the players in two straight lines, 
ten feet distance between lines. Make a chalk 
starting line on which leaders will stand. 
Give each leader a ball. 

On the signal "Are }^ou ready?" the play- 
ers should raise their hands above their 
heads. On the word "Go" the ball is passed 
over head, each player passing it to the play- 
er in his rear until it reaches the last one, 
who immediately seizes the ball, runs to the 
front of the line and starts the ball again, 
passing it back over his head. 

Thus the last player in the line runs eacH 
time he receives the ball to the front of the 
line, until finally the leader is back on start- 
ing line. 

The side having their leader back on the 
starting line first wins the game. 

Note. — The above is a simplified form of 
"Arch Ball." 

OBJECT 

Motor force; spirit of competitive play; 
voluntary energy. 



183 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROUGH AND SMOOTH— I 

MATERIAL 

Six-inch squares of sand-paper, smooth- 
finished paper, emery, and glass. 

Have the children stand in a half-circle. 

Hand the sandpaper around the class, 
letting each child handle it in turn; then 
the smooth-finished paper, give this also to 
each child in the class. 

Then take the square of glass and the 
square of emery, and with these materials re- 
peat the exercise in the same manner. 

This exercise should be continued until the 
child shows that it perceives the difference in 
the surface of the materials. When this 
stage is reached the teacher should give the 
next exercise in the series. 

OBJECT 

To develop sense of touch ; concentration. 



184 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROUGH AND SMOOTH— II 

MATERIAL 

Six-inch squares of sand-paper, smooth-fin- 
ished paper, emery, and glass. 

Have the children stand in a half-circle. 
Hand the piece of sand-paper to the first 
child, and remark, while rubbing child's 
fingers on the rough surface, "Rough." Have 
the child repeat the word after you. 

Repeat the exercise in this way, going to 
each child in turn and having them say the 
word "Rough." 

Teacher should then hold the piece of 
sand-paper so that it may be seen by each 
child, and have them repeat altogether the 
word "Rough." 

Continue the exercise with the smooth- 
finished paper, having the children repeat the 
word'"Smooth" each time they feel the paper. 

The squares of glass and emery should 
then be treated in the same way. 

OBJECT 

Touch; memory; attention. 



185 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROUGH AND SMOOTH— III 

MATERIAL 

Six-inch squares of sand-paper, smooth-fin- 
ished paper, emery, and glass. 

Have the children stand in a half-circle. 
Call upon a child and put a blinder on his 
eyes; hand him the above squares one at a 
time. He should feel the surface and tell 
the class the nature of it. For example, on 
receiving the square of glass he should say, 
"This is a piece of glass, it is smooth" and 
on receiving the emery, "This is a piece of 
emery, it is rough." Continue the exercise 
in this way calling upon children in turn to 
perform. 

OBJECT 

Touch; concentration; discriminative 
power; independent thought. 



186 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"HOP, HOP, HOP" 

Children should stand in a circle, two feet 
distance between each child. 

"Once I saw a little bird come hop, hop, hop, 

(hop three times) 
And I cried little bird will you stop, stop, 
stop, 

(clap three times) 
And was going to my window to say 'how 
do you do?* 

(make a low bow) 
When he shook his little tail and- away he 
flew." 

Swing the body from side to side on the 
words "When he shook his little tail" and on 
the words "And away he flew" raise the arms 
above the head to imitate flying, skip around 
in a circle, and then back into place. 

Repeat rhyme slowly and maintain correct 
rhythm throughout. 

OBJECT 

Memory; imaginative activity; increase 
vocabulary. 

187 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK STANDING 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red and blue blocks. 

Chalk floor according to diagram. Place 
players in two lines of equal number. 

Have leaders on starting lines; give each 
child a block, red for one line, and blue for 
the other. 

At a given signal children should run in 
relay style and place their blocks on end in 
the circle. If the block should drop length- 
wise child must replace it on end. Should 
a player knock another block down while 
placing his, he must replace it upright before 
returning to his line. 

The line having all their blocks placed in 
circle, and their leader on the starting line 
first, wins the game. 

OBJECT 

Spirit of competitive play; motor control; 
voluntary energy. 

188 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




189 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FORM STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE 

MATERIAL 

A number of geometrical forms, square, 
circle, oval, triangle, etc., one side black and 
reverse side white, made of thin wood, size six 
inches; one large form eighteen inches in 
size will be needed for every six small forms. 

Teacher should place large geometrical 
forms on the floor in a straight line, with the 
white side up. Give each child a small form. 
First child will place his small form on 
large form of corresponding shape, white 
side up. He will then take his seat, and next 
child will perform. The exercise continues 
in this way until each child has placed his 
form. 

The large forms may be placed on the floor 
with black side up, and children place their 
forms accordingly. 

This exercise may also be varied by plac- 
ing the large forms on the floor, alternating 
black and white. , 

OBJECT 

Form ; discriminative power. 



190 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 

"SIX LITTLE MICE" 

Six children should be chosen to represent 
mice. They sit cross-legged on the floor in 
a semi-circle. 

One child representing "Pussy" takes place 
to the right of the six mice. 

"Six little mice sat down to spin, 

Pussy passed by and she looked in; 

What are you doing my little men? 

We're making coats for gentlemen. 

May I come in and bite off your threads ? 

Qh, no, Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our 

heads." 

The six mice imitate the action of sew- 
ing during the first part of the rhyme. On 
the third line "Pussy" crawls in on all 
fours and asks the question "What are you 
doing, my little men ?" The mice answer her 
as on line four, and perform the action of 
holding up their sewing. "Pussy" asks the 
question on the fifth line, and then crawls 
away as the mice all point at her, and shake 
their heads as they repeat the last line. 

OBJECT 
Memory; imaginative activity. 



191 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG HOP. 

MATERIAL 

Ten bean bags ; five red and five blue. 

Mark the floor according to diagram. Place 
a bean bag on each circle, r ; ed bags on one 
side and blue on the other. 

Line up the players in two lines, with lead- 
ers on the starting lines. 

At a given signal the leaders should hop 
oyer each bean bag and then back again, be- 
fore taking their place at the rear of their 
line, leaders should touch the second player 
who immediately hops over the bean bags 
as did the first. 

The game continues in this way; each play- 
er taking his place at the rear of the line 
when he has finished hopping. 

The side having its leader back on the 
starting line first wins the game, 

OBJECT 

Competitive spirit; motor force; atten- 
tion; stimulate activity. 



192 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



o 




o 


o 




IO 


o 




:o 


o 




:o 


o 




o 


LEADER 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


io Feet 


LEADER 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 



193 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WAND MARCHING 

MATERIAL 

Thirty wooden wands, three feet in length ; 
fifteen should be painted bright red and fif- 
teen bright blue. 

Line up children according to height. Give 
each child a wand, alternating red and blue. 
Wands should be held in a horizontal posi- 
tion, with the ends loosely clasped in each 
hand, arms straight down. 

A simple, well-accented march should be 
played during this exercise. 

Children should march around the room 
twice, then down the centre, divide into two 
lines at the upper end of the room ; reds going 
in one direction, and blues in the other. 



194 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



The two lines, going in opposite directions, 
march around 'the room twice. On the 
second round the lines meeting at the 
upper end of the room, fall into single file 
and march down centre and around the room 
twice. If the reds and blues do not alternate 
correctly it is not difficult to find who has 
made the error. 

Teacher should then give the command 
"March by twos." Children sKould fall into 
double line, blues on one side and reds on the 
other, then march around the room twice. 

It is necessary to give the command 
"Halt" several times during the marching; 
for if the child grows tired, he will drag his 
feet and his attention will weaken. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; attention; discipline. 



195 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR CIRCLE THROW 

MATERIAL 

Red, blue and yellow bean bags. 

Form a circle, children standing a con- 
siderable distance apart. Draw three circles 
as in diagram; put one bean bag in each 
circle of color called for. 

Give each child a bean bag, alternating red, 
blue and yellow. At a given signal the game 
should start, each player throwing his bean 
bag in turn and endeavoring to get it into 
the circle of corresponding color. When all 
bean bags have been played, teacher should 
count the bags in the circle. The players 
who have thrown the greatest number of 
bags of same color as circle, win the game. 

OBJECT 

Color; accuracy of aim; motor force. 



196 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 




197 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



TOUCH AND DIRECTION 

MATERIAL 

Book, tooth brush, bean bag, doll, tin cup, 
hair brush, etc. 

Have the children quietly seated. Place 
two small tables before the class ten feet dis- 
tance between the tables. 

Put the above articles on one table. 

Call upon a child and blindfold him, lead 
him to the table on which the articles are 
laid. He should pick up one article telling 
the name of it as he does so. He should 
then carry it and place it upon the second 
table; after which he should return to the 
first table, pick up a second article, and re- 
peat the exercise. 

When one child has carried the above ar- 
ticles from one table to the other, call upon 
another child to perform. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; touch; sense of direction; 
memory. 



198 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MEDICINE BALL LINE-UP 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Players should stand in two lines facing 
each other, eight feet between lines. 

Give the ball to the leader on line A and 
have him throw it to leader on line B ; after 
having thrown the ball, leader on line A 
should immediately run to the end of his line. 
After having received the ball, leader on line 
B should throw it back to second player on 
line A, and leader on line B should run to 
the end of his line. The game continues in 
this way, each player throwing the ball to the 
opposite player and then running to the end 
of his line. 

Score must be kept on both sides to keep 
count of the number of failures in catching. 

The side having the least number of fail- 
ures wins the game. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; competitive spirit; train- 
ing eye and hand. 

199 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MUSCULAR CONTROL 

Have the children stand in a half-circle, 
three feet distance between each child. 

Raise arms to the level of the shoulders, 
palms toward the floor. Raise heels from 
the floor and slowly lower them again. 

Arms should be kept perfectly straight 
while this exercise is being performed. 

Repeat the exercise six times, then the 
arms may be lowered and a short space of 
time allowed for rest. 

OBJECT 

Muscular control; concentration; volun- 
tary effort. 



200 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND, COLOR AND CON- 
CENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

Eight wooden blocks; two blue, two red, 
two yellow, two green. 

Call a child from class and give following 
commands slowly and distinctly. 

Pick up one red block, one green and one 
blue. 

Put down one red and pick up two yellow 
blocks. 

Put down one yellow and pick up two red 
blocks. 

Put down one red, one yellow and one 
green, and pick up one blue. 

Put down one red and one blue and pick 
up two greens and one yellow. 

Put down two greens, one yellow and one 
blue and go to your seat. 

Absolute quiet should be maintained in 
the schoolroom during this exercise. 

Note. — Color sense training must be given 
the child before any attempt may be made at 
this exercise. 



201 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BLOCK BUILDING RELAY 

MATERIAL 

Equal number of red and blue wooden 
blocks. 

Draw diagram as below. 

Children stand in two lines with leaders 
on starting lines. Give each child a block, 
one line having red, and one line blue. 

At a given signal, the leaders of each line 
should run and place their, blocks lengthwise 
on the chalk crosses. The leaders should 
then each run to the rear of their lines, and 
the two second players should run and place 
their blocks crosswise on the first players' 
blocks; they should then run to the rear of 
their lines, then third players run and place 
blocks ; the game continuing in this way un- 
til all the blocks are played, and two struc- 
tures of crosswise blocks are made, one of 
blue and one of red. Should a player upset 
the structure while placing his block, he must 
rebuild it again before running to the rear 
of line. 



202 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



The side having its structure made, and its 
leader back on starting line first, wins. 



+ 

Red 


+ 

Blue 


1 

55 




LEADER 
X 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


LEADER 

X 

X 
X 

X 



OBJECT 

Muscular control; concentration; poise; 
constructive activity. 



203 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



KNEEL AND PRONE 

Chalk a straight line on which children 
will stand. There should be two feet of space 
between each child. 

Commands should be given and carried 
out with precision to obtain successful re- 
sults. 

Children stand erect, with arms folded 
across chest. Have children keep their 
arms thus folded throughout the whole 
exercise. 

i. "All kneel." 

2. "All lie flat on the floor, with faces 
down." 

3. "All kneel." 

4. "All stand." 

Teacher should allow a few seconds to 
elapse between each command, to eliminate 
confusion. 

When first giving this exercise, do not 
repeat it more than four consecutive times. 



OBJECT 

Motor control; concentration; voluntary 
effort. 



204 






«fc 







COMPETITIVE BOWLING 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMPETITIVE BOWLING 

MATERIAL 

Four dozen blocks, one dozen baseballs; 
colors: Red, blue, yellow, green. 

Draw two chalk circles, three feet in dia- 
meter, and two starting lines opposite circles 
at a distance of eighteen feet. 

Place two dozen blocks on end in each 
circle. 

Call upon two players, give them each six 
baseballs. 

. They should bowl their balls one at a time 
endeavoring to knock down as many blocks 
as possible. 

The player knocking down the greater 
number of blocks with his six balls wins. 

Continue game in this way. 

Two children should be chosen to replace 
the fallen blocks, and two children to return 
the scattered balls to players. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; natural activity. 



205 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HEARING AND DIRECTION— II 

MATERIAL 
Four rubber balls. 

Mark the floor according to the diagram. 

Blindfold A and have him take his place in 
the centre of the diagram. Give B, C, D and 
E each a rubber ball, and have them stand 
in their appointed places. 

Teacher should give commands by gesture. 

Motion to B to bounce his ball, he should 
bounce it three times in succession; teacher 
then asks A what he heard. He should an- 
swer "I hear the bouncing of a ball." Teacher 
then asks him to point in the direction from 
which the sound came. A should point in 
the direction of B and say "The ball was 
bounced in that direction." 

Teacher should then have C, D and E 
bounce their balls in turn ; asking A the above 
questions each time as to what he hears, and 
whence came the sound. 

This exercise should be continued by call- 
ing upon five other children to take their 
places on the diagram, the former taking 
their seats. 



206 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



Xc 




Xb 


1 


Xa 


1 


3 




^ 


Xd 




Xe 



OBJECT 

Hearing; concentration; sense of direc- 
tion; independent thought. 



207 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



WAND DRILL 

MATERIAL 

Thirty wooden wands, three feet in length ; 
fifteen should be painted bright red and fif- 
teen bright blue. 

Line up the children in single file accord- 
ing to height. Give each child a wand, al- 
ternating red and blue. 

Children should march around the room 
twice, to simple, well-accented music. 

i. Children march down the centre of the 
room. The command "Halt" is given. All 
come to position, with feet together, heads 
erect, wands held in a horizontal position, 
one end in each hand, arms down straight. 

2. The command "Face front" is given, 
followed by "Call colors" at which the child 
at the head of the line calls red, the second 
child calls blue, and so they continue right 
along the line, calling in alternation red and 
blue according to the color of the wand they 
are holding. 

3. "Reds take three steps forward." 
Teacher should count slowly and distinctly, 
"One, two, three." while those children hold- 
ing red wands march forward three steps 
to the front of the blue line. This is a simple 

208 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



method of opening ranks preparatory to drill. 

4. "Stand in position; wands to should- 
ers; up; to shoulders; down." (Repeat four 
times.) 

5. "Swing wands up as far as the arms 
can reach; holding the body erect; down to 
position." (Repeat four times.) 

6. "Wands to shoulders; up; rest wands 
in the back of neck; up; to shoulders; wands 
down to position." (Repeat four times.) 

7. "Wands to shoulders; wands out 
straight in front; to shoulders; wands down." 
(Repeat four times.) 

8. "Close ranks." To carry out this com- 
mand, blues take three steps forward, bring- 
ing them to position in a straight line with 
reds. If children have come back to their 
correct positions, red and blue wands will 
alternate all along the line. 

9. "Present your wands." This command 
should be carried out by each child holding 
her wand in one hand straight in front of 
her from which position they should be col- 
lected. 

A final march should close the drill. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; discipline; attention. 



209 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND CONCENTRATION 

MATERIAL 

Red ball, yellow block, blue bean bag. 

Place the above articles on a table and call 
upon child to perform. 

The teacher should give commands in the 
following order, speaking slowly and dis- 
tinctly. 

Pick up bean bag and hold it. 

Pick up block and hold it. 

Put down bean bag and pick up ball. 

Put down block. 

Pick up bean bag and put down ball. 

Pick up block. 

Put down bean bag and block, and go to 
your seat. 



210 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"MARY'S LAMB" 

Have the children stand in a semi-circle. 
Choose two children; one to represent 
"Mary," and one to represent the "Lamb." 

"Mary" should walk up and down slowly 
while the class repeats the rhyme and the 
"Lamb" should follow her closely on all 
fours. 

"Mary had a little lamb, 

Its fleece was white as snow; 

And everywhere that Mary went, 

The lamb was sure to go. 

He followed her to school one day; 

Which was against the rule; 

It made the children laugh and play, 

To see a lamb at school. 

What makes the lamb love Mary so? 

The eager children cry. 

Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know, 

The teacher did reply. 

And you each gentle animal 

In confidence may bind; 

And make it follow at your will, 

If you are only kind." 

OBJECT 

Increase vocabulary; stimulate thought 
211 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



PICK UP AND RUN 

MATERIAL 

Thirty-two wooden blocks, divided into an 
equal number of red, blue, yellow and green. 

Mark the floor according to diagram. 

Place one block of color called for in each 
circle. 

Place twelve blocks, three of each color, 
in the circles beside starting lines. 

Call upon two players, who take their 
places on the starting lines. 

On given signal they should each pick up 
one block and place it in the circle of corre- 
sponding color, then run back and pick up 
another, block and place it, and so continue 
until all of the blocks have been placed in 
the circles. 

The player having all blocks placed cor- 
rectly and back on the starting line first, 
wins the game. 

A player is not allowed to carry more than 
one block each time she runs. 

OBJECT 

Color; concentration; competitive spirit. 



212 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



Green 



o o 

Red Red 

o o o o 

Blue Yellow Blue Yellow 

o o 



Green 



O 



O 



213 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



DOUBLE LINE FORM BUILDING 

MATERIAL 

Twenty-four wooden blocks, twelve red 
and twelve blue. 

Mark the floor according to diagram. 

Line up children, according to size, in two 
lines of twelve. Give children each a wood- 
en block, one line having red and one line 
blue. 

Leaders stand on starting lines. 

At a given signal leaders should run and 
place their blocks on end on one of the 
crosses in the triangle. They then run to 
the rear of line and second players should 
run and place their blocks in like manner. 
The game continues until all the blocks have 
been placed, and leaders are on starting lines. 

The blocks must be placed upright. Should 
a player knock another block down while 
placing his, he must replace it before run- 
ning back to his line. The side having all 
of its blocks placed and its leader, back on 
starting line first, wins the game. 



214 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



The diagram may be varied by drawing 
any simple geometric form. 



X 




X 


XX 




XX 


X X 




X X 


X X 




X X 


xxxxx 




xxxxx 






1 


b, 




fe, 


"S 




oo 


s 




H 


LEADER 


6 Feet 


LEADER 


X 




X 


X 




X 


X 




X 


X 




X 


* 




X 


X 




X 



OBJECT 

Form; spirit of competitive play. 
215 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BALL BOUNCING 

MATERIAL 

Rubber, balls. 

Make a straight chalk line and have chil- 
dren stand side by side. 

Give each child a rubber ball. 

i. Children must play in turn. Have child 
throw ball into the air and catch it as it re- 
turns. The ball may be thrown about two 
feet. Let this exercise be repeated many 
times. 

2. Children should stand in position on 
chalk line. Give each child a rubber ball. 

Teacher should call upon the first child to 
bounce ball once. When the first child has 
bounced his ball, call upon the second child, 
and so continue along the line. Should a 



216 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



child fail to catch the ball, do not stop to 
have the child repeat, but continue to end 
of line, and then repeat the exercise. 

Teacher should collect balls and have chil- 
dren stand in half-circle. 

3. Bounce one ball each to children, giv- 
ing each their ball in turn and bouncing them 
diagonally. When all balls have been played 
children should then bounce them back to 
teacher, first child leading, and each child 
playing in turn. 

Note. — Six minutes' free play with the 
balls may be allowed after each of these ball- 
bouncing exercises. 

OBJECT 

Co-ordination; concentration; train eye 
and hand. 



217 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



"LITTLE BOY BLUE" 

Choose three boys to take the principal 
parts; one should take the part of "Little 
Boy Blue" and two take the parts of farmers. 

Divide the rest of the class, one half to 
represent cows, and the other half sheep. 
These children should go on their hands and 
knees in a straight line, cows to the right of 
the line and sheep to the left; the cows should 
first be taught to "moo, moo" and the sheep 
to "baa, baa." 

"Little Boy Blue" carries a horn, and pre- 
tends to be asleep some little distance back of 
the cows and sheep. 

First farmer comes in at right, and after 
looking about in search of "Little Boy Blue" 
cries : 

"Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn; 

The sheep are in the meadow, 

The cows are in the corn." 

Second farmer should then come in at 
left. 



218 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



First farmer : "Where is the little boy, who 
looks after the sheep ?" 

Second farmer: "He is under the haystack 
fast asleep." 

First farmer: "Will you go and wake 
him?" 

Second farmer: "No, not I, if I do he'll 
cry." 

First farmer: "Then I will." 

The first farmer should then go to "Little 
Boy Blue" and shaking him, say loudly: 

"Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn; 

The sheep are in the meadow, 

The cows are in the corn." 

"Little Boy Blue" awakens and blows his 
horn loudly, at the same time running after 
the cows and sheep, who crawl across the 
room moo-ing and -baa-ing loudly. 

The game thus comes to an end, the cows 
and sheep being rounded into one corner of 
the room. 

OBJECT 

Play spirit; imaginative activity; idea as- 
sociation. 



219 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COLOR AND FORM PUZZLES— III 

Twelve-inch pieces of thin wood forming 
ovals, squares, diamonds, oblongs, circles; 
and triangles of red, blue, yellow, purple, 
orange, and green color. Each form should 
be cut into five irregular pieces. 

Have the children stand at a table. Give 
to each child fifteen pieces, comprising three 
complete geometrical designs when correct- 
ly put together. Each of the three forms 
given to one child should differ in color and 
shape. 




OBJECT 

Color; form; concentration; constructive 
activity. 



220 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



RUN AND DODGE 

Children should stand in a circle with 
hands joined. 

Choose two children for the odd players; 
have one on the inside of the circle, and one 
on the outside. 

The object of the game is, for the outside 
player to catch the inside player. 

No assistance may be given to either child 
by the players in the ring. The odd players 
may not run away from the circle in an ef- 
fort to chase, but they may run and dodge 
in and out and through the circle, as much 
as they wish. 

When the player is caught, the two 
players should take their places in the ring, 
and two others should be chosen for the 
odd players. 

Note.— The above game is a simplified 
form of "Cat and Rat." 

OBJECT 
Play spirit; attention; initiative. 



221 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HEARING AND DIRECTION— III 

MATERIAL 

Rubber ball, tin cup, marbles, wand, three 
feet in length, and bell. 

Mark the floor according to diagram. 

Call upon five children to perform. 

Blindfold A and have him stand in the cen- 
tre of the diagram. 

Give to B the rubber ball. Give C the 
tin cup with the marbles in it. Give to D 
the wand and to E the bell and have them 
each stand in their appointed place. 

Teacher should give commands to B, C, D 
and E by gesture. Motion to D to rap the 
floor with the wand. Ask A what sound 
he heard. When he has answered ask 
him to point in the direction from which the 
sound came. A should then point in the 
direction of D. Motion to C, B and E in turn 
to make their different noises; teacher 
asking A questions each time as to the nature 
of the sound, and the direction from whence 
it came. 



222 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



When these children have performed, send 
them to their seats, and call upon five others 
to take their places. 



Xb 


18 Feet 


Xc 


1 


Xa 




oo 






Xd 




Xe 



OBJECT 

Sense of direction; discrimination of 
sound; concentration. 



223 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



HOPPING RELAY 

Line up the players in two straight lines, 
according to height. 

There should be two posts, twelve feet 
apart; two starting lines opposite, eighteen 
feet from the posts. 

Have the leaders stand on the starting 
lines each holding a flag. At a given signal 
the leader of each side will hop to the post, 
around it and back to the starting line. He 
will then give the flag to the second player, 
who will immediately take his turn, the lead- 
er in the meantime taking his place at 
the rear of the line. 

The game continues in this way, no player 
being allowed to start off until he has re- 
ceived the flag, and each player after he has 
taken his turn taking his place at the rear of 
the line. 

The side having its leader back on the 
starting line with the flag first, wins the 
game. 

OBJECT 

Motor training; self-control; stimulate 
natural activity. 



224 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



. . "SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE" 

Teach the following nursery rhyme, say- 
ing the words slowly and distinctly that the 
children may understand: 

"Sing a song of sixpence, 
A pocket full of rye, 
Four and twenty blackbirds, 
Were baked in the pie. 
When the pie was opened, 
The birds began to sing; 
And wasn't that a pretty dish, 
To set before the king? 
"The king was in the parlor, 
Counting out his money; 
The queen was in the kitchen, 
Eating bread and honey; 
The maid was in the garden, 
Hanging out the clothes ; 
There came a little blackbird, 
And nipped off her nose." 

Have the children stand and clap their 
hands while repeating the above rhyme. 

OBJECT 

Memory; increase vocabulary. 



225 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



KEENNESS OF VISION 

Place a small table at one end of the room. 
On this table put six articles; for example, 
a cup, ball, hair brush, spoon, book and comb. 

Child should stand at the other end of the 
room, and name one by one the different 
articles on the table. The child must first 
be taught to know the name and use of any 
article placed thereon. 

Some variation must be made in the arti- 
cles each time the exercise is used; also the 
number may be increased, as the children 
show improvement. 

OBJECT 

Attention ; observation. 



226 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



EXERCISE IN SIZE 

MATERIAL 

A number of marbles of one color and fin- 
ish, of four different sizes; the difference in 
size should be marked. 

Have children seated on small chairs at a 
kindergarten table. 

Give each child two dozen marbles 
and have him assort the different sizes, and 
put them into compartment boxes. 

This is an attractive as well as instructive 
exercise, since children take pleasure in 
handling marbles. 

OBJECT 

Attention; size; co-ordination. 



227 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Two blue blocks, two yellow blocks, one 
green and one red. 

Place blocks side by side on the table and 
call child to perform. 

Give commands in the following order: 

Pick up red and green. 

Put down red and pick up two yellows. 

Put down one yellow and pick up red and 
blue. 

Put down red and pick up yellow and 
blue. 

Put down two yellows and green and 
pick up red. 

Put down two blues and one red, and go 
to your seat. 

Note. — Do not attempt the exercise until 
color sense is well developed. 



228 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROLL CALL 

Have the children seated in a half-circle, 
with their arms folded. At a given signal 
the first child should rise, call his name and 
then take his seat; the second child does like- 
wise; the exercise continues in this way, un- 
til every child in the class has risen in his 
turn and called his name. 

Encourage the children to talk loudly and 
as distinctly as possible when calling their 
names. 

Should a child be unable to talk, he should 
rise in his turn and the teacher should call 
his name for him. 

To gain desirable results this exercise 
should be carried out with method and pre- 
cision. 

OBJECT 

Language; initiative; discipline. 



229 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



MARCHING 

Line up the children in twos according to 
height. If each child holds her partner's 
hand, she will not so readily stray from the 
line. Have the children march round the 
room several times. . 

Teacher clap hands in time to the marching 
and count emphatically, "One, two; One, 
two," all the time the exercise is in progress. 
If convenient have a simple march tune 
played on the piano, but do not omit count- 
ing and clapping. 

Children should be continually reminded 
to keep the body erect, also to lift the feet, 
while marching. 

OBJECT 

Motor control; command; stimulate activ- 
ity. 



*3° 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BEAN BAG CATCH 

MATERIAL 

Ten bright colored bean bags. 

Children sit in semi-circle on small chairs. 

Teacher stands in front of class and 
throws bean bags, endeavoring to put one 
into the hands of each child as they sit in 
class. 

Throw the bags first to a child on one side 
of the class, then to a child on the other 
side; the children will becocne more alert 
when the bag is thrown unexpectedly. 
When all bean bags have been thrown, tell 
children to throw them back to the teacher. 

Choose two players to pick up fallen »bean 
bags and return them to teacher. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; to stimulate play spirit; 
train eye and hand. 



23* 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



BALL DRILL 

MATERIAL 

Small rubber balls. 

Mark a straight chalk line on the floor. 

Line up the children according to height, 
and have them stand on the line. Give each 
child a ball. 

Teacher should give the following com- 
mands, carrying out the action with the 
words. 

i. "Stand with two feet together on the 
line; left hand on hip; right hand grasping 
the ball. Children bounce their balls and 
catch them six times." 

Teacher and children should count audibly 
during each movement of the exercise. 

2. "Left hand on hip; throw the ball into 
the air." (Repeat six times.) 

3. "Right hand on hip; bounce the ball 
with the left hand." (Repeat six times.) 

4. "Right hand on hip ; throw the ball into 
the air with the left hand." (Repeat six 
times.) 



232 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



5. "Bounce the ball with the right hand 
and catch it with the left, then bounce it with 
the left and catch it with the right hand." 
(Repeat six times.) 

6. "Throw the ball into the air with the 
right hand, and catch it with the left; throw 
it into the air with the left hand and catch it 
with the right. "(Repeat six times.) 

7. "Bounce the ball and clap once before 
catching it." (Repeat six times.) 

8. "Throw the ball into the air, and clap 
the hands once before catching it." (Repeat 
six times.) 

When the children have become familiar 
with the above movements, the drill may be 
carried out to pianoforte music, played to 
slow waltz time. 

When music is played, the counting should 
be omitted. 

OBJECT 

Co-ordination; concentration; rhythm; 
motor force. 



233 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



COMMAND AND COLOR 

MATERIAL 

Four wooden blocks, one red, one blue, one 
green and one yellow. 

Place blocks in a row upon the table, call 
upon child to perform and give commands 
in the following order: 

Pick up red. 

Pick up blue. 

Put down red, and pick up green. 

Put down green, and pick up yellow and 
red. 

Put down blue, red, and yellow, and pick 
up green. 

Put down green, and go to your seat. 

Note. — Do not attempt this exercise until 
training has been given the child in color 
sense development. 

OBJECT 

Concentration; memory. 



^34 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



ROLL BALL 

MATERIAL 

Medicine ball. 

Have children sit in semi-circle on small 
chairs. 

Mark two parallel lines on the floor 
twelve feet apart and four feet in length. 

Teacher stands on one line and rolls the 
ball slowly in the direction of second line, 
meanwhile calling upon A to catch the ball 
before it can reach second line. 

A will leave seat, catch the ball, and 
roll it back to teacher,, who will again roll 
ball, calling upon B to catch it before reach- 
ing second line. 

As children become more alert, the ball 
may be rolled more quickly. Those chil- 
dren who can talk may be allowed to roll 
the ball and call a child's name. 

OBJECT 

Attention ; voluntary action; muscular con- 
trol. 



235 



GAMES FOR CHILDREN 



FIVE FINGERS 

Have the children sit in a half-circle. 
Teach the following rhyme and have children 
use the fingers of the left hand to represent 
each "little pig" as it is mentioned. 

"This little pig went to market, 
This little pig stayed at home, 
This little pig had roast beef, 
This little pig had none, 
This little pig cried 'Wee, wee! 
I can't find my way home/ " 

Note. — Revised form of Mother Goose 
"Five Toes." 

OBJECT 

Attention; voluntary action; muscular 
control. 



236 



INDEX 



Action Circle Game, 174 
Action Song, 76 
Action Song, 120 

"Baa-Baa Black Sheep," 53 
"Baby Dolly/' 80 
Ball Bouncing, 216, 217 
Ball Drill, 232, 233 
Ball Leader, 146 
Ball Scramble, 40 
Ball Throw, 22 
Ball Throw, 175 
Baseball Bowling, 24 
Baseball Pick-Up, 138 
Bean Bag Catch, 231 
Bean Bag Hop, 192, 193 
Bean Bag Pass, 143 
Bean Bag Race, 102, 103 
Bean Bag Relay, 176, 177 
Bean Bag Throw, 34 
Bean Bag Throw, 66, 67 
Bean Bag Toss, 17 
Bell Circle, 42 
Bird Flying Exercise, 75 
Block and Basket Game, 

124, 125 
Block Building Relay, 202, 

203 
Block Placing, 26 
Block Race, 128, 129 
Block Standing, 188, 189 
Block Structure, 105 
Broad Jump, 61 < 
Buttoning Exercise, 54 

Center Ball Catch, 139 
Chair Race, 50 
Circle Blind Man, 51 
Circle Block Building, 142 



Circle Hoop Game, 83 

Circle Pick-Up, 94 

Circle Throw, 107 

Circle Toss, 178 

Color, 18 

Color and Form Puzzles, 

I, 35 

Color and Form Puzzles, 

II, 84, 85 

Color and Form Puzzles, 

III, 220 

Color Circle Throw, 196, 
197 

Color Exercise, 27 

Color Observation, 89 

Color Pick-Up, 169 

Color Study, 164 

Color Throw, 181 

Command and Color, 228 

Command and Color, 234 

Command and Concentra- 
tion, 20 

Command and Concentra- 
tion, 38 

Command and Concentra- 
tion, 106 

Command and Concentra- 
tion, 210 

Command and Imitation, 29 

Command and Observa- 
tion, 60 

Command Color and Con- 
centration, 201 

Competitive Bowling, 205 

Competitive Triple Color, 
172, 173 

Concentration and Mem- 
ory, 108 

Crawling Race, 126 



^37 



INDEX 



Days of Week I, 77 
Days of Week II, 78 
Direction and Attention, 81 
Direction and Command, 55 
Discipline Exercise, 99 
Double Line Form Build- 
ing, 214, 215 
Double Line Hoop Game, 

116, 117 
Dressing Exercise, 113 
Drill — Arm Swinging, 86, 

87 
Drop The Bean Bag, 135 

Exercise in Balance, 62 
Exercise in Form, 91 
Exercise in Size, 227 

Farmyard Game, 88 
"Five Fingers/' 236 
Flag Drill, 110, 111 
Flag Marching, 46 
Flat Relay Race, 72, 73 
Foot and Arm Exercise. 171 
Form Building, 114, 115 
Form Marching, 131 
Form Study in Black and 
White, 190 

Guessing Game, 39 

Hearing and Concentration, 

65 
Hearing and Direction I, 

123 
Hearing and Direction II, 

206, 207 
Hearing and Direction III, 

222, 223 
Hearing Game, 145 
"Hickory Dickory Dock," 30 
Hide The Block, 119 
Hoop Game, 45 
Hoop Game, 160, 161 
"Hop, Hop, Hop," 187 



Hopping Game, 144 
Hopping Relay, 224 
"Hush-a-Bye," 68 

"I Love Little Pussy," 47 
"I Saw, A Little Man," 130 
Indian File Target Game, 
168 

"Jack and Jill," 90 

Keenness of Vision, 226 
Kneel and Prone, 204 

Leap Frog, 100, 101 
Leap Frog Race, 152, 153 
"Little Bo-Peep," 104 
"Little Boy Blue," 218, 219 
"Little Drops of Water," 

140 
"Little Jack Horner," 63 
"Little Miss Muffet," 112 

Marching, 136, 137 
Marching, 230 
Marching and Clapping, 32 
"Mary's Lamb," 211 
Medicine Ball Bowling, 132, 

133 
Medicine Ball Line-Up, 199 
Medicine. Ball Throw, 31 
Memory and Color, 141 
Memory and Command, 21 
Memory Test, 157 
"Mistress Mary," 70 
Muscular Control, 200 

Naming Articles, 52 

"Odd Man Out," 95 
"One, Two, Three, Four, 

Five," 23 
Outdoor Observation, 122 
Over Head Bean Bag, 118 
Over Head Medicine Ball, 

183 



238 



INDEX 



Paper Cutting I, 154 
Paper Cutting II, 155 
Paper Folding, 156 
Paper Pick-Up, 41 
"Pat-A-Cake," 19 
Physical Questions, 127 
Pick Up and Run, 212, 213 
Pick Up Sticks, 182 
Places Change — I, 97 
Places Change— II, 98 
"Play Days," 57 
Pulling Exercise, 37 

Rainbow Circle, 109 
Ring Toss, 121* 
Roll Ball, 235 
Roll Call, 229 
Rolling Rounders, 28 
Rope Jumping, 92, 93 
Rough and Smooth — I, 184 
Rough and Smooth — 11,185 
Rough and Smooth — III, 

186 
Rounders, 96 
Run and Dodge, 221 
Running Exercise, 79 

Schoolroom Observation, 74 
Sense of Direction, 44 
Shoe Lacing Exercise, 33 
Sight Exercise, 49 
Silence Period, 25 
"Sing A_ Song Of Six- 
pence," 225 
Single File Marching, 69 



Single Line Block Build- 
ing, 158, 159 

Single Line Block Stand- 
ing, 58 

Single Line Hoop Game, 
71 

Single Line Medicine Ball 
Bowling, 64 

Sit and Stand, 43 

"Six Little Mice," 191 

Stone Pictures, 167 

Study of the Body, 151 

Target Game, 180 
"The Clock," 165 
"The Robin," 150 
Three-Legged Race, 162 
Tiptoe Exercise, 36 
Touch and Direction, 198 
Tri-Color Game, 148, 149 
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little 
^tar," 82 

Visualization, 56 
Visualization and Color, 134 

Walking Backward, 163 
Walking Curved Line, 179 
Walking Exercise — I, 59 
Walking Exercise — II, 147 
Wand Drill, 208, 209 
Wand Marching, 194, 195 
Water Carrying, 166 
"What Do You Hear?" 170 
"Who Is Missing?" 48 



239 



